Yuan’s Ascension

Her true self is here? Did something major happen? Wu Yuan felt puzzled, but didn't hesitate. With a thought, he lifted the barrier outside the hall.

Soon after, a silver-armored figure flew into the hall. Seven thousand years had passed, yet Zhuo Haiyue's heroic bearing remained unchanged. In fact, she had grown even more dashing.

Comprehending the Law of Thunder had made her aura increasingly sharp and fierce.

"Haiyue." Wu Yuan rose to welcome her.

"Ming Jian, apologies for the sudden visit. I must have disturbed your meditation." Zhuo Haiyue smiled.

"Between us, there's no need for such formalities. Please, sit." Wu Yuan waved his hand, and instantly an array of immortal wines and delicacies appeared on the table.

The two sat across from each other.

Over the past thousands of years, Wu Yuan and Zhuo Haiyue had joined forces many times, mostly at Zhuo Haiyue's invitation, to complete spacetime missions together. This had deepened their friendship considerably.

It could be said that in Wu Yuan's ten thousand years of cultivation, his qi refiner self had made few friends, but Zhuo Haiyue counted as one of them.

Even though Wu Yuan's strength had grown immensely, Zhuo Haiyue was not far behind.

"What brings you here this time? Another spacetime mission to carry out?" Wu Yuan asked, quite puzzled.

"No!" Zhuo Haiyue smiled faintly. "I'm preparing to leave the Spacetime Island, so I've come to bid you farewell."

"You’re leaving the Spacetime Island so soon? We've been here for fewer than ten thousand years." Wu Yuan was taken aback, frowning as he asked, "Don't you want to try for the Dao Master’s inheritance?"

Zhuo Haiyue's strength was formidable, and she had completed every spacetime mission perfectly in each mission cycle. Therefore, she was now a Dao Master Imprint bearer. By all rights, in another ten thousand years at most, she could attempt to receive the inheritance.

"It's not possible for me. This is the Spacetime Dao Realm, where Spacetime reigns supreme. You, who comprehend the Great Dao of Spacetime, have great hope." Zhuo Haiyue smiled.

"Though I've also strived to comprehend the Law of Space, I ultimately fall far short, nowhere near your level. Staying on the Spacetime Island any longer would serve little purpose.

With the Megaverse Crossroads opening soon, I need to seek my own path if I am to have even a glimmer of hope." Zhuo Haiyue explained.

Wu Yuan listened silently.

As the day of its opening drew near, news of the Megaverse Crossroads had long since spread. Even the countless imprint bearers on the Spacetime Island were now aware of it.

The various superpowers in the rivers of space and time had all divined the approximate timing of its opening – less than nine thousand years remained.

This grand event that occurred only once in billions of years had captured everyone's attention.

It was not surprising that Zhuo Haiyue chose to leave at this time.

Wu Yuan understood that in terms of true strength, even if Zhuo Haiyue was weaker than his qi refiner self, the gap was likely not too large.

Though he still didn't know exactly what Zhuo Haiyue was implicated in, with her strength, she would certainly choose to participate in the Megaverse Crossroads if given the chance.

"Very well. We are all cultivators on the road to immortality. Until we transcend the Ninth Immortal Tribulation, we can hardly rest for a moment." Wu Yuan smiled. "Today, let this be a farewell feast for you. We shall meet again when the Megaverse Crossroads opens."

"Mm." Zhuo Haiyue nodded with a smile.

The two raised their cups and drank deeply.

"Before I leave, I wanted to give you a gift as well." Zhuo Haiyue suddenly flipped her palm over.

In her palm was a crystalline sphere flickering with lightning. Even with its aura suppressed, the energy it emanated was enough to make Archimmortals and Archdeities pale.

"This is…a Dao Instrument?" With Wu Yuan's current level of power and discernment, he recognized it at a glance

He looked at Zhuo Haiyue in considerable surprise. "A mid-grade Dao Instrument? Or a high-grade one?"

In some inexplicable way, Wu Yuan sensed that this lightning orb was even more powerful than the Golden River and Nine Star Lotus Platforms. It was no ordinary artifact!

"As expected, even though I've done my utmost to conceal its aura, it can't evade your perception," Zhuo Haiyue gave a helpless smile, then grew solemn and said with gravity, "It's a high-grade Dao Instrument called the Thunderforce Bead!"

"It's truly a high-grade Dao Instrument?" Wu Yuan couldn't help but look at Zhuo Haiyue in shock.

How precious was a high-grade Dao Instrument? The vast majority of late-stage Astral Monarch powerhouses didn't possess treasures of this caliber. Even a figure as mighty as Astral Monarch Wan Lei only had the Hundred Stars Saber.

One could say that such rare treasures were not easily obtained, and most had significant histories behind them.

And when ordinary powerhouses did acquire such items, they typically kept them hidden, rarely letting others know.

Once word got out, it was quite normal for it to draw the covetous eyes of mighty Astral Monarchs or even Sovereigns.

Who would brazenly bring it out like Zhuo Haiyue?

"Mm, it's a gift for you," Zhuo Haiyue said with a smile.

"A gift for me?" Wu Yuan furrowed his brow in disbelief. "Why? We may be good friends, but not to the point of exchanging such ultimate treasures."

Even Sovereigns wouldn't do that.

"I trust you," Zhuo Haiyue looked at Wu Yuan, her gaze crystal clear. "You should be able to guess... my situation is special."

Wu Yuan nodded slightly.

The progress of his qi refiner self had shaken the river of space and time, yet Zhuo Haiyue's progress was no slower, one could imagine how special her circumstances must be.

"I have no other choice. This treasure is a form of karma," Zhuo Haiyue said softly. "Among those I've met, you have the greatest talent and potential, and are also the most likely to be able to help me in the future.”

“There are Overlords in the divine court headquarters, and even a supreme being," Wu Yuan shook his head. "Even if I could become an Overlord, it would likely take a long time."

"The powerhouses at the divine court headquarters are willing to help me, but they can't," Zhuo Haiyue shook her head. "Only those who haven't completed their Tribulations, who haven't left an imprint in the Dao essence of heaven and earth, have a chance of helping me."

Wu Yuan pondered thoughtfully.

In Zhuo Haiyue's seemingly calm voice, he sensed a deep despair. Yet she remained so composed.

"I won't hide it from you, helping me might bring you great trouble in the future," Zhuo Haiyue said solemnly. "This trouble could even exceed the value of the Thunderforce Bead."

She laid everything out honestly, concealing nothing from Wu Yuan.

"Trouble? If you ultimately fail to walk to the end of the path you’ve chosen, what will happen to you?" Wu Yuan asked.

Zhuo Haiyue only replied with a faint smile.

But Wu Yuan already understood.

For a moment, the hall fell silent as Zhuo Haiyue waited for Wu Yuan's final decision.

Wu Yuan was deep in thought for a long while.

"I'll help you," Wu Yuan finally uttered three words. "But you need to tell me the reason, so I can better assist."

"I can't say. There are some things I can't speak of," Zhuo Haiyue shook her head. "But do you remember what I said to you years ago?"

"Years ago?" Wu Yuan was stunned for a moment, then recalled. "Remember you?"

"Yes!" Zhuo Haiyue nodded heavily, a flash of resolution passing through her usually calm eyes. "Remembering me is the greatest help you can offer me.

Remember me, don't forget me.

Ming Jian, you're the only one I can place my trust in now," Zhuo Haiyue waved her hand, and the Thunderforce Bead, flickering with lightning, flew to Wu Yuan.

"I'll be leaving now."

…

After bidding farewell to Wu Yuan, Zhuo Haiyue indeed left the Spacetime Island.

She left without a sound, her absence barely causing much of a stir among the Taiyuan Divine Court faction on the Spacetime Island.

It was as if an invisible force had caused countless imprint bearers on Spacetime Island to unconsciously forget her existence, to overlook her.

While other imprint bearers might not have noticed, Wu Yuan, who had been prepared, keenly perceived it.

Remember you? Haiyue, what kind of trouble have you encountered? Could it be that in the future, a terrifying force will erase your traces from these years? Wu Yuan pondered silently.

He recalled what the Creation Emissary had said back in the Immutable Land.

Did True Saint Bu Xiu nurture us successors so that we would remember him too? Wu Yuan murmured to himself.

Remembering is very important.

Wu Yuan's strength was formidable. At full power, he wasn't considered weak even among Astral Monarchs. But when it came to Sovereigns, Overlords, and even the legendary supreme beings, he still knew too little.

Furthermore, when it came to matters involving supreme beings, Wu Yuan refrained from casually asking Master Kua Chi or others for additional information.

Once I ask them, it might create a karmic connection, potentially implicating me. Furthermore, they might not know the answers, and might not be able to help. Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.

Even the powerhouses in the divine court headquarters seem to have difficulty helping Zhuo Haiyue, let alone Master Kua Chi?

Wu Yuan was willing to help Zhuo Haiyue.

Firstly, it was due to their friendship that had deepened over ten thousand years. In his early years, she had helped Wu Yuan quite a bit. He had never forgotten the time Zhuo Haiyue saved his life.

Secondly, Wu Yuan also had his own plans.

Our destinies are intertwined. Zhuo Haiyue is involved with supreme beings, and I'm involved with the Ancestral Pagoda... Even if helping her brings about a calamity, that's a matter for the future. Wu Yuan thought to himself.

In the future, who knows if this relationship will help me with the issue of the Ancestral Pagoda.

The future was hard to predict.

Besides, the Thunderforce Bead is a high-grade Dao Instrument, it'd be a waste not to take it. Wu Yuan looked down at the bead flickering with lightning in his hand.

He had already begun to decipher it. Containing the complete Law of Thunder, its power was vast and immeasurable. Once fully unleashed, its might would be endless.

Unfortunately, although Wu Yuan had gained some understanding of the Law of Thunder while comprehending the Law of Death, he hadn't even reached the Archimmortal level yet, so he could only unleash a tiny fraction of its power.

Even if I don't use it, I can exchange it for other treasures, which is also a good deal. Wu Yuan smiled. Moreover, through this Thunderforce Bead, I can gain insights into the Law of Thunder.

The power of a low-grade Dao Instrument was equivalent to a high-grade celestial artifact. However, it was much more valuable as it contained a complete Dao essence, which could assist powerhouses in Dao comprehension.

…

Outside the Spacetime Dao Realm, a battleship was speeding forward through outer space.

In one of the cabins, Zhuo Haiyue sat in lotus position, strange fluctuations suddenly appearing around her body.

“Whew! Haiyue, you’ve really suffocated me to death this time. What were you doing, sealing me away for so long?" A childish voice suddenly rang out in her mind.

"Hm? Haiyue! Where's the Thunderforce Bead? Where did it go?" The childish voice now carried a hint of panic. "That was an inheritance treasure, why can't I sense its aura anymore?"