Wu Yuan was stunned.
Top of the Eternal Sun Immortal World? He had never thought about this. After all, the Eternal Sun Immortal World was too vast, with countless beings and too many geniuses.
The bit of talent he had probably meant nothing in the Eternal Sun Immortal World. But according to Zhuo Haiyue, he was considered decent within the Eternal Sun Immortal World?
That makes sense. Wu Yuan pondered inwardly. If my talent was truly that poor, an Astral Monarch wouldn’t have invited me to be his disciple.
“Do not belittle yourself, but do not grow arrogant either,” Zhuo Haiyue sighed.
“Far too many geniuses have emerged throughout history, many of whom were ten times or a hundred times stronger than us.”
“You cleared level sixty-three of the one-star tower. Do you remember the immortal nation’s highest record for the one-star tower?”
“I remember,” Wu Yuan nodded. “Level eighty-one.”
“Indeed.” Zhuo Haiyue nodded with a look of reverence. “That feat was achieved by the most astonishing genius in the immortal nation’s history, named Luo Gu. He cleared level eighty-one of the one-star tower at under a hundred years of age.”
“Clearing level eighty-one of the one-star tower is equivalent to clearing level seventy-one of the two-star tower.”
“In other words, what I managed to achieve today is close to what Luo Gu achieved at just one hundred years old,” Zhuo Haiyue shook his head. “How vast is the disparity?”
“The immortal nation’s highest record for the two-star tower was also set by him, at level eighty-three!”
“Though I still have over a hundred years left to challenge it, I can tell you right now that my chances of clearing level eighty of the two-star tower are nearly nonexistent,” Zhuo Haiyue sighed.
“Luo Gu is the most terrifying genius in the immortal nation’s history, and even in the history of the Eternal Sun Immortal World, he is among the very top! His talent surpasses ours by more than tenfold.”
“He rose in a blaze of glory, overcoming nine Immortal Tribulations within ten thousand years to become a being surpassing Archimmortals.”
Wu Yuan was shaken.
Previously, he was only aware of the highest recorded levels of the one-star and two-star towers, but he never imagined the legendary figure who achieved them.
No wonder! No wonder the immortal continent’s records were so far behind the historical records.
“But what if I told you that in the distant divine court headquarters, peerless geniuses comparable to Luo Gu emerge in every generation?” Zhuo Haiyue suddenly smiled. “And not just one, but a whole group?”
Wu Yuan listened, dumbfounded.
Every generation? And a whole group of them?
“The divine court headquarters is home to the greatest of peerless geniuses from across the endless river of space and time, with treasures beyond your wildest imagination and geniuses as numerous as clouds,” Zhuo Haiyue said.
“We are geniuses, but we are merely the type of genius that appears once in tens of thousands of years in the immortal nation.”
“In the billions of years of the immortal world’s history? In the endless ages since the establishment of the divine court? We are nothing!”
Wu Yuan’s breath caught.
Today, he conquered level sixty-three of the one-star tower, and his name spread across the immortal continent, with countless beings and even immortals singing his praises. Undeniably, there was a sliver of pride in Wu Yuan’s heart.
But Zhuo Haiyue’s words were like a bucket of cold water, drenching Wu Yuan to his core and forcing him to come face to face with his insignificance.
Silence fell.
Zhuo Haiyue did not speak further, waiting for Wu Yuan to digest her words.
After a while, Wu Yuan asked slowly, “What are the pinnacle geniuses in the history of the Divine Court like?” freewebnσvel.cѳm
He went straight for the highest standard in history!
“The pinnacle?” Zhuo Haiyue was momentarily stunned, then smiled. “I’m not entirely sure. I once asked my master, and he only gave me one response.”
“The Seven Star Luminaries Tower. Clearing all one hundred levels of its seven towers grants one the right to leave their name on the eternal Luminary Ranking of the divine court headquarters!”
Wu Yuan fell silent.
Only those who had truly attempted the Seven Star Luminaries Tower understood its difficulty.
Level one hundred? Forget the two-star tower or three-star tower, even for the current one-star tower, Wu Yuan could only hope to complete level seventy. As for level eighty? He didn’t even dare dream of it!
“Li Xia, I’m not telling you all this to discourage you, but because of your talent and our friendship,” Zhuo Haiyue said. “I hope you do not lose yourself in the fame of being a genius.”
“You have the talent to become an Astral Lord or even an Astral Monarch! Do not squander it.”
“Mm.” Wu Yuan nodded.
Zhuo Haiyue’s words had indeed given him a good wake-up call.
This bit of talent he had was nothing in the endless river of space and time.
“That is why I chose to follow my master to the divine court,” Zhuo Haiyue said solemnly. “Only when competing with the topmost geniuses across the river of space and time can one realize that there are always others more talented than you.”
“Only then can one understand the vastness of heaven and earth!” Zhuo Haiyue’s words rang with conviction.
Wu Yuan felt Zhuo Haiyue’s ambition and determination. It was truly extraordinary.
“I am a little older than you right now. But in a thousand or ten thousand years, we will be considered geniuses of the same generation,” Zhuo Haiyue said with a smile.
“If you have the chance to head to the divine court headquarters one day, I will be waiting for you there.”
Wu Yuan was taken aback.
This statement felt slightly odd.
“Don’t misunderstand.” Zhuo Haiyue shook her head. “The path of immortality is long. My heart is set on the Dao, but on this lonely quest, having a friend from my homeland accompany me is something I long for.”
“Alright.” Wu Yuan smiled as a spark of ambition grew in his chest. “Then you shall take the lead. In the future, I will follow in your footsteps and join you at the divine court headquarters.”
“Cheers, to the path of immortality.” Zhuo Haiyue smiled, raising her wine cup.
“To the path of immortality.” Wu Yuan clinked his cup against hers.
Both drank it all in one go.
“Additionally, there is something else I must tell you.” Zhuo Haiyue put down her cup and said slowly, “Beware of the Fang Family.”
“Fang Family?” Wu Yuan was first surprised, then understood. “Is the Fang Family your enemy?”
The Fang Family was one of the four prince-rank families of the Redmoon Immortal Continent.
“Yes.” A flash of hatred crossed Zhuo Haiyue’s eyes. “The Fang Family and I are mortal enemies.”
“In the past, your name was not as prominent, thus the Fang Family wouldn’t care about you. But now, they will no longer overlook our friendship,” Zhuo Haiyue said.
“I am heading to the divine court headquarters, where the Fang Family cannot touch me, but you are different. You may have the backing of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect and no direct enmity with the Fang Family, but still, be cautious,” Zhuo Haiyue said solemnly.
“Hmm, I will be careful,” Wu Yuan nodded, taking note of the matter.
“This parting will be a long one,” Zhuo Haiyue looked at Wu Yuan. “Li Xia, don’t let me leave you too far behind.”
“You must strive hard as well. Perhaps when we next meet at the divine court headquarters, I will have surpassed you,” Wu Yuan replied, also looking at Zhuo Haiyue.
The two exchanged smiles.
It was the mutual appreciation between fellow cultivators.
…
After chatting with Zhuo Haiyue, Wu Yuan’s consciousness departed from the Redmoon Immortal Voidrealm.
So, this vast heaven and earth is so expansive, with so many geniuses. Wu Yuan’s eyes sparkled with newfound determination.
I once thought the immortal continent was immense, but compared to the river of space and time, it seems so small.
Level eighty-three of the one-star tower? Level one hundred? Wu Yuan mused inwardly. Since someone in history has achieved it, it proves that it is not impossible.
Luo Gu? At the very least, I must work towards this goal.
Next, after my qi refiner self reaches the ninth-stage Golden Core phase, I should not rush to upgrade my lifebound flying swords, but instead fully focus on Dao comprehension.
Wu Yuan decided to abandon part of his previous cultivation plan.
I must comprehend the Longevity Dao to a higher level, and also work on combining the two Intermediate Laws to a greater extent.
As for my body refiner self, I will validate my combat skills in the Bloodforge Battle, while simultaneously contemplating the profundities of the Celestial Body Dao.
Bloodforge King? Wu Yuan allowed a seed of ambition to take root.
The entire Bloodforge Battle was set to last two years.
For an ordinary Golden Core cultivator, two years of cultivation might not yield significant progress. But how long had Wu Yuan’s qi refiner self been cultivating since his soul transformed? Barely three years.
Another year or two of cultivation, and Wu Yuan’s mastery of the Longevity Dao would reach new heights.
If he could effectively combine the two Daos, his body refiner self’s strength would surge dramatically. By then, he might stand a chance at claiming the title of Bloodforge King.
I must work hard! Wu Yuan calmed his mind, delving into deep cultivation.
Days passed.
On the Redmoon Immortal Continent.
With Zhuo Haiyue’s departure and Wu Yuan in secluded cultivation, the uproar caused by their performance in the Seven Star Luminaries Tower gradually faded, and was only mentioned occasionally in conversations.
This was the norm.
In the blink of an eye, fewer than ten days remained until the Bloodforge Battle began.
…
In a region of spacetime far from the Redmoon Immortal Continent, there stood another vast land no less grand than the mainland of the Redmoon Immortal Continent.
On this continent, a grand temple stood. Surrounding the temple was a rushing, mighty river that flowed around the temple. Each drop of water appeared to weigh a thousand jun. [1]
Inside the temple.
“He declined my invitation?” An elderly man with golden-yellow skin, towering a hundred zhangs high, sat on the throne. He was clothed in black robes.
He was Astral Monarch Su Qing, one of the thirteen Astral Monarchs of the Silvermist Immortal Nation, possessing boundless power and awe-inspiring might.
“A mere Dragon Star Immortal Sect dares to offend you, and a Golden Core brat dares to reject your invitation.” A white-robed elderly man bowed respectfully, speaking in a deep voice, “Great Astral Monarch, should we punish them?”
1. 1 jun = 30 catties ☜