The Greenridge Macrocosm was an expansive and boundless realm, where powerful forces clashed incessantly. Yet, within this tumultuous expanse, the territory of the Eternal Sun Immortal World remained peaceful and undisturbed.
Wu Yuan, a Golden Core/Spiritual Body level youngster who had only started cultivating decades ago, had never needed to concern himself with other great forces of the macrocosm.
After all, apart from this journey to the Bloodforge Spacetime for the Bloodforge Battle, he had never left the Redmoon Immortal Continent.
Wu Yuan knew that the eldritch lineage existed within the Greenridge Macrocosm, but not the specific name of the subordinate faction.
The Cang Feng Eldritch World? Wu Yuan had genuinely never heard of it.
As for the Eldritch Sovereign? He was clueless.
However, Wu Yuan was still startled. Astral Monarch Hou Qu?
Astral Monarch! He naturally knew what a lofty status that was.
Previously, his qi refiner self made waves in the immortal nation, and Astral Monarch Su Qing had wanted to take him as a disciple, but he was refused by High Immortal Nan Yin.
According to High Immortal Nan Yin, within the vast Silvermist Immortal Nation, only thirteen Astral Monarchs had ever been born over eons. One could only imagine how high a status they had.
Wu Yuan believed that the Astral Monarchs from the immortal nation were most likely the big shots, the high-ranking figures of the entire Eternal Sun Immortal World.
Astral Monarch Pei He, who rules over the entire Silvermist Devil Hall, is definitely one of the Bloodforge Devil Hall’s highest echelons. Yet, he’s so polite, so this Astral Monarch Hou Qu must be no ordinary individual. Several thoughts raced through Wu Yuan’s mind.
Yet, a dignified Astral Monarch, an absolute super powerhouse, was under orders to come and pick him up?
Good heavens!
With a bit of deduction, Wu Yuan realized that this supposed Eldritch Sovereign must be an unimaginable, heaven-defying existence.
Didn’t High Immortal Wu Tian say he was going to take me to the Devil Hall headquarters? Wu Yuan’s mind whirled. Why did an Astral Monarch suddenly arrive to take me to the Cang Feng Eldritch World? How did the Eldritch Sovereign find out about me?
Though a bit befuddled, Wu Yuan wasn’t particularly worried.
If it were bad news, these two honorable Astral Monarchs would not be speaking to him with such a pleasant attitude.
He was ninety-nine percent sure that it was good news, and not just good, but great!
“Wu Yuan, there’s no need for worry.” Astral Monarch Pei He, noticing Wu Yuan’s confusion, gave a reassuring smile, “The Cang Feng Eldritch World is a force even more powerful than my Bloodforge Devil Hall – a top-tier major faction in the whole macrocosm.”
“You are an eldritch cultivator, one gifted beyond measure. Heading to the Cang Feng Eldritch World would be most beneficial for your cultivation.” Astral Monarch Pei He laughed, “In the future, you may belong to Cang Feng Eldritch World, but you will always be a part of the Bloodforge Devil Hall – that will never change.”
Wu Yuan was utterly flabbergasted, but he understood.
It seemed that Bloodforge Devil Hall was planning to send him to Cang Feng Eldritch World? An eldritch world was probably on par with an immortal world!
But how could Bloodforge Devil Hall be so kind-hearted? He had just obtained two Legendary opportunities and displayed extraordinary talent. Why was the Bloodforge Devil Hall willing to let him go?
“What?”
“Wu Yuan is leaving the Bloodforge Devil Hall? And joining the Cang Feng Eldritch World?”
“What’s going on?”
“This… This can’t be happening, right? It is one thing if Wu Yuan were heading to the devil hall headquarters, but why join the Cang Feng Eldritch World?” Disbelief written all over the eight Archimmortals and hundreds of High Immortals’ faces.
Their gazes instinctively turned to Astral Lord Yin He.
High Immortal Wu Tian, in particular, had been counting on Wu Yuan’s meteoric rise. As his direct High Immortal superior, Wu Yuan’s success would bring him substantial merit.
But he was leaving already?
It was the same story for the other immortals of the Redmoon Devil Hall. With Wu Yuan’s unparalleled talent, there was a high chance of him rising in status, and they stood to benefit.
However, Astral Lord Yin He’s demeanor was as calm as ever. Standing quietly behind the two Astral Monarchs, he ignored the gazes of numerous immortals from Redmoon Devil Hall, as if he had accepted the situation.
There was a deathly silence.
“Astral Monarchs,” Wu Yuan rapidly composed himself, “Although I am an eldritch cultivator, I am a disciple of the Bloodforge Devil Hall. Will leaving for the Cang Feng Eldritch World… be improper?”
Wu Yuan was not a fan of the Bloodforge Devil Hall’s rules. But at least, they valued him highly and selectively nurtured him.
What would things be like in the Cang Feng Eldritch World? Everything was unknown.
“Haha, Brother Pei He.” Astral Monarch Hou Qu laughed, looking at Astral Monarch Pei He, “It seems Wu Yuan still has some concerns, could you allow me to have a private conversation with him?”
“Brother Hou Qu, you jest.” Astral Monarch Pei He responded, “Wu Yuan will soon become a member of the eldritch world, you may do as you please.”
“He is still a disciple of your devil hall, it is only right that I ask for your permission.” Astral Monarch Hou Qu replied with a smile.
With that, Astral Monarch Hou Qu landed before Wu Yuan. With a wave of his hand, an invisible force enveloped a hundred-meter radius of space around them, impervious to prying eyes and ears.
The powerhouses of the Bloodforge Devil Hall could only wait patiently.
“Astral Monarch,” Wu Yuan tried to bow, but was taken aback when an invisible force held him up.
“Since I call you my young friend, there’s no need for formalities.” Astral Monarch Hou Qu laughed, “And don’t call me Astral Monarch or Senior. Just call me Brother Hou Qu.”
Wu Yuan was stunned.
Brother Hou Qu?
A super-powerhouse, an Astral Monarch that ruled over countless immortal continents, with an army of Archimmortals at their beck and call, asked Wu Yuan to address him in such a manner?
The implications needed no further explanation.
Wu Yuan was well aware that even with his dazzling talent, most Archimmortals and Astral Lords felt his chances of becoming an Astral Monarch were slim to none.
“I dare not,” Wu Yuan replied respectfully. “I implore Senior to elucidate.”
“Ah, those who emerge from the Taiyuan Divine Court are somewhat rigid,” Astral Monarch Hou Qu sighed with a hint of helplessness, shaking his head with a smile. “Wu Yuan, did you receive heavenly endowed eldritch tattoos?”
Wu Yuan was instantly taken aback.
Heavenly endowed eldritch tattoos? How did Astral Monarch Hou Qu figure it out?
It should be noted that one did not necessarily need heavenly endowed eldritch tattoos to successfully establish a second-degree eldritch root.
“Don’t worry, across endless spacetimes, the heavenly endowed eldritch tattoos are usually granted by the great Eldritch Progenitors. When the Eldritch Progenitors disperse their consciousness across the countless worlds, they naturally perceive your existence,” Astral Monarch Hou Qu laughed. “So, from that moment on, the Eldritch Court knew of you.”
Wu Yuan was stunned, his heart pounding with surprise.
No wonder it was said that Eldritch Progenitors held the authority to control the will of heaven and earth.
“Eldritch Court?” Wu Yuan was confused.
“The Eldritch Court is a place established by the Eldritch Progenitors. It is also a place countless eldritch cultivators from numerous macrocosms aspire to,” said Astral Monarch Hou Qu with a laugh.
“The Eldritch Court is a top-tier faction throughout the river of space and time. In terms of strength, it surpasses the Taiyuan Divine Court. Only a few top-tier factions like the Immortal Court can rival it,” Astral Monarch Hou Qu said proudly. “The Eldritch Court is also one of the oldest major factions centered around humanity since the creation of heaven and earth.”
Wu Yuan quietly listened.
He seemed to glimpse an ancient power. An entity that has stood at the pinnacle of the river of space and time, despite the vast expanse of ages.
“My Cang Feng Eldritch World, also known as the Cang Feng Tribe, is the Eldritch Court’s constituent faction in the Greenridge Macrocosm,” Astral Monarch Hou Qu explained. “My Cang Feng Eldritch World alone is one of the seven most powerful entities in the Greenridge Macrocosm, unsurpassable in its might.”
Seven major factions? Wu Yuan silently noted.
In the entire Greenridge Macrocosm, there were seven major factions on the level of the Cang Feng Eldritch World, Eternal Sun Immortal World, and Bloodforge Devil Hall?
“You must have a lot of thoughts and conjectures in your mind,” Astral Monarch Hou Qu said in a gruff and hearty voice.
“The Eldritch Sovereign was aware that you obtained a great opportunity from the Bloodforge Spacetime. Thus, he made a deal with the Bloodforge Devil Hall. He sent me here specifically to fetch you and bring you back to the Cang Feng Eldritch World.”
These were the words that the Eldritch Sovereign had instructed Astral Monarch Hou Qu to say. As for the matters behind the scenes of the Bloodforge Spacetime? There was no need to inform Wu Yuan about them.
Wu Yuan was taken aback.
The Eldritch Sovereign was aware of everything that he had experienced in the Bloodforge Spacetime?
“Astral Monarch Hou Qu,” Wu Yuan couldn’t help but ask, “What kind of existence is the Eldritch Sovereign?”
“The Eldritch Sovereign is one of the heads of the Cang Feng Eldritch World. He holds a position equivalent to that of the head of the whole Eternal Sun Immortal World and the hall master of the Bloodforge Devil Hall,” Astral Monarch Hou Qu chuckled. “Across the entire Greenridge Macrocosm, he is absolutely one of the peak existences.”
Wu Yuan held his breath.
Indeed! He was an extraordinary existence on par with the head of the whole Eternal Sun Immortal World?
The Eternal Sun Immortal World reigned over over a thousand immortal nations. And every immortal nation had thousands of immortal continents.
A quick calculation would reveal that the entire Eternal Sun Immortal World probably ruled over five to six million immortal continents, given that the number of second-tier divisions of the Bloodforge Devil Hall alone exceeded four million. And the devil hall could rival the Eternal Sun Immortal World.
The Cang Feng Eldritch World wouldn’t be weak either, the number of its Archimmortal-level powerhouses likely exceeded ten million.
The Eldritch Sovereign’s position was unimaginably lofty. Such an extraordinary existence had specifically sent an Astral Monarch to fetch him?
Wu Yuan took a deep breath.
“I presume you have some idea of why I’m here now,” Astral Monarch Hou Qu smiled. “The Eldritch Sovereign sent me here because he wishes to take you as his disciple.”
“A nominal disciple,” he added.
Wu Yuan nodded slightly, his heart pounding.
A nominal disciple? Even as a mere nominal disciple of the Eldritch Sovereign, one’s status surpassed that of a direct disciple of an Astral Monarch.
Just by observing Astral Monarch Hou Qu’s demeanor, he could glean several clues.
The Eldritch Sovereign! Was he truly accepted under the tutelage of such a heaven-defying existence?
Indeed, it was a monumental opportunity. In comparison, the two Legendary opportunity treasures obtained from the Bloodforge Devil Hall paled in comparison to acquiring the status of ‘disciple of an Eldritch Sovereign’.
A Legendary opportunity can only smooth my path to becoming an Astral Lord, granting me some hope of becoming an Astral Monarch. But being taken under the wing of an Eldritch Sovereign?
Becoming an Astral Lord? No! The Eldritch Sovereign must have seen potential in him to become an Astral Monarch. Otherwise, Wu Yuan would hardly be worth his time.
“Wu Yuan, you are currently a nominal disciple because your strength is still lacking,” Astral Monarch Hou Qu laughed, “But once you overcome the nine Immortal Tribulations and become an Astral Lord, you will naturally be promoted to direct disciple status.”
Wu Yuan nodded lightly.
In the eyes of such a heaven-defying existence like the Eldritch Sovereign, only someone who had survived the Immortal Tribulations could truly be considered to have matured.
“Astral Monarch Hou Qu, you mentioned overcoming nine Immortal Tribulations? Isn’t it seven?” Wu Yuan inquired.
“Ordinary High Eldritches only need to survive seven Tribulations to establish an Archeldritch body,” Astral Monarch Hou Qu shook his head, “But among the direct disciples under the Eldritch Sovereign, almost all have overcome nine Immortal Tribulations, directly becoming an Astral Lord.”
“Among the hundreds of direct disciples under the Eldritch Sovereign, apart from those who died young, the majority of them ultimately became Astral Monarchs.” Astral Monarch Hou Qu said, “Quite a few of them have achieved power approaching that of the Eldritch Sovereign himself, making a name for themselves.”
Wu Yuan was stunned.
Impressive! As expected of disciples mentored by the Eldritch Sovereign, truly extraordinary. The majority of them became Astral Monarchs?
After some thought, it made sense. Within the Redmoon Immortal Continent and Silvermist Immortal Nation, it was rare for Tribulation/Universe Architect cultivators to overcome nine Immortal Tribulations. Such prodigies belonged to the absolute top-tier of geniuses.
But for the disciples of the Eldritch Sovereign, it was just the norm.