To Wu Yuan, the illusions released by the Mirror of Creation weren’t particularly challenging to deal with. But to be incapacitated in the heat of battle for a full quarter of an hour?
In clashes between High Immortals and High Eldritches, hundreds to thousands of exchanges could occur in a single second. If Imperial Majesty Lei Fu and Imperial Majesty Nan You had turned back to attack, they might well have succeeded in killing Wu Yuan.
Of course, while Wu Yuan’s consciousness was trapped in the illusions, Little Black still remained conscious. In a dire situation, it would have carried Wu Yuan to safety. This was one of the advantages of having a lifebound eldritch beast.
“They fled, and with your condition uncertain, we didn’t dare give chase,” Eldritch Deity Hou Tu said, shaking his head.
“With just the two of them left, they no longer pose a significant threat.” High Eldritch Hou Zhi smiled, adding, “Besides, they were so frightened they didn’t even take the Mirror of Creation with them.”
With a wave of his hand, a bronze mirror appeared, floating in the air. It was none other than the Mirror of Creation, the legendary weapon that had made Imperial Majesty Da Yan a force to be reckoned with throughout Huanggu.
Simple yet elegant, the mirror’s face was perfectly smooth, without a single blemish.
Its reverse side, however, was covered in countless cryptic patterns. It exuded an aura of antiquity.
“Eldritch Deity Hou Feng, it’s all thanks to you that we emerged victorious. You should keep the Mirror of Creation for now,” Eldritch Deity Hou Tu said. “It might prove beneficial to your cultivation. Perhaps you may wish to study it and attempt to gain some insights. You can also try to activate it if you wish.”
“Very well,” Wu Yuan nodded, accepting the mirror without hesitation.
This unassuming mirror was, in fact, one of the objectives he had set for himself upon arriving in Huanggu. At last, he had obtained one of the Creation Divine Artifacts.
“What’s the situation at Heavenly Pillar Mountain?” Wu Yuan suddenly asked.
As soon as he realized the three Imperial Majesties of the immortal race were here, he had immediately sent word to the eldritch race’s army at Heavenly Pillar Mountain.
“They’ve already breached the Twenty-sixth Heaven,” Eldritch Deity Hou Tu said with a hint of a smile. “Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu’s power is overwhelming. Combined with hundreds of High Eldritches, the remaining High Immortals and Earth Immortals of the immortal race stand no chance.
By the time Imperial Majesty Lei Fu and the others make it back, I reckon Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu will have already reached the Thirty-Third Heaven,” Eldritch Deity Hou Tu said with a grin.
Wu Yuan nodded in approval.
Years ago, Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu had managed to escape unscathed even when facing Imperial Majesty Da Yan at his full, Archimmortal-level strength. His power was unquestionable.
“We mustn’t delay. Let’s head to Heavenly Pillar Mountain at once,” Wu Yuan said, looking at Eldritch Deity Hou Tu. “If Imperial Majesty Lei Fu and the others return, we’ll be there to provide support.
Ideally, we should intercept them before they reach Heavenly Pillar Mountain,” Wu Yuan added.
“Agreed.”
“Eldritch Deity Hou Feng is right.” Eldritch Deity Hou Tu and High Eldritch Hou Zhi nodded in unison. Wu Yuan’s words didn’t just echo their thoughts, but that of the upper echelons of the entire eldritch race.
At this point, the end of the long war was in sight! The immortal race was on the brink of annihilation, with most of their High Immortals and Earth Immortals either captured or slain.
However, if Imperial Majesty Lei Fu and Imperial Majesty Nan You managed to return to Heavenly Pillar Mountain, where they could unleash their full Archimmortal-level power, that would be truly terrifying.
Two Archimmortals? Even if the entire eldritch race banded together, they might not be able to withstand such a force. If the two Imperial Majesties of the immortal race were driven to desperation, they could still cause immense trouble for the eldritch race.
Therefore, the best strategy was to intercept them before they reached Heavenly Pillar Mountain. At the very least, they had to be stopped before the Eighteenth Heaven.
“Let’s go.”
“Move out.” Wu Yuan, with Hou Tong by his side, set off with Eldritch Deity Hou Tu and High Eldritch Hou Zhi, their forms transforming into streaks of light as they sped towards Heavenly Pillar Mountain.
Wu Yuan took the lead, guiding the others. They quickly accelerated to an incredible velocity.
With Wu Yuan’s speed, even if he set out a quarter-hour later, he would still reach Heavenly Pillar Mountain faster than Imperial Majesty Lei Fu.
…
Inside Heavenly Pillar Mountain, blood flowed like rivers and flames reached the sky. The continent fissured, the earth shattered, and layer upon layer of arrays collapsed.
“No!”
“Where are the Imperial Majesties?”
“Where have they gone?” Countless beings of the immortal race wailed.
It was a replay of the last eldritch-immortal war. At the crucial moment, the Imperial Majesties whom these immortal race beings trusted and worshiped had vanished without a trace.
Masses of immortal cultivators tried to flee, but the colliding torrents of arcane arts filled the sky, their aftershocks reaching hundreds of millions, even billions of li. Countless immortal cultivators perished.
“Kill!”
“Kill! Slaughter all these immortal race scum!”
“Eldritch Deity Hou Feng fought one against three, slaying Imperial Majesty Da Yan, and forcing Imperial Majesty Nan You and Imperial Majesty Lei Fu to flee.”
“With this battle, we shall annihilate the immortal race.” Nearly two hundred High Eldritches of the eldritch race strode through the skies and the earth, exuding overwhelming might. The battle intent they emanated was terrifyingly intense.
These High Eldritches had all received news of Wu Yuan’s battle with the three Imperial Majesties of the immortal race. Although Imperial Majesty Da Yan had willingly sacrificed himself, Eldritch Deity Hou Tu altered the narrative, claiming that Wu Yuan had slain Da Yan directly. This was propaganda.
Of course, in a sense, it truly was Wu Yuan who killed Imperial Majesty Da Yan. If not for him, how could Imperial Majesty Da Yan have perished?
Whoosh! A giant flaming palm swept across heaven and earth, piercing through a massive array and obliterating a High Immortal within.
The giant palm retracted, and a figure strolled casually through the sky of the Twenty-seventh Heaven—it was Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu.
He was the true number one genius and powerhouse to emerge from the Huanggu eldritch race.
Hou Feng slew Da Yan? Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu murmured to himself, a glint in his eyes. Could his Dao comprehension have nearly reached the seventh-level Dao Field stage of an Intermediate Law?
Truly inconceivable. I’ve cultivated for millions of years, yet I’m no match for a child who’s cultivated for mere hundreds. [1] Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu smiled faintly. How utterly pathetic I’ve become, no better than a worthless mutt.
The seventh-level Dao Field stage of an Intermediate Law was generally the level of comprehension of late-stage Archimmortal powerhouses. In the Greenridge Macrocosm, this would be the level of an Astral Lord.
…
The eldritch race’s army swept through Heavenly Pillar Mountain like an unstoppable tide, crushing the remaining dregs of the immortal race’s army.
Wu Yuan, Eldritch Deity Hou Tu, and the others were swiftly rushing toward Heavenly Pillar Mountain.
In a desolate mountain range about ten billion li from Heavenly Pillar Mountain, four figures emanating powerful auras were gathered in a sorry state—they were Imperial Majesty Lei Fu, Imperial Majesty Nan You, Heavenly Master Lei Guang, and Heavenly Master Jiu Zhu.
Contrary to the worries of the eldritch race’s highest echelons, not only had these four not fled back to Heavenly Pillar Mountain, but after confirming they had shaken off Wu Yuan, they had fled even further from Heavenly Pillar Mountain.
“The last message received from Heavenly Pillar Mountain was that the eldritch race army breached the Thirty-first Heaven. After that, no more messages were sent out. I fear the entire army has been annihilated,” said Heavenly Master Jiu Zhu.
Imperial Majesty Lei Fu and Imperial Majesty Nan You remained silent, seeming lost in thought.
After a while, Heavenly Master Lei Guang asked in a low voice: “Imperial Majesties, what should we do next? Are we really not going back?”
“Imperial Majesties, with your ability to unleash Archimmortal-level power, we have hope of killing many eldritch race troops if we fight our way back,” said Heavenly Master Jiu Zhu.
“There is no hope left. From the moment Hou Feng displayed his power, it was clear our immortal race no longer had any hope,” sighed Imperial Majesty Nan You, his voice tinged with melancholy.
Silence fell.
Heavenly Master Lei Guang opened his mouth, but no words came out.
Indeed! The eldritch race was powerful, Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu’s strength unmatched, yet the immortal race had never given up, and even remained full of confidence.
Why? It was because the three Imperial Majesties were nearly invincible existences inside Heavenly Pillar Mountain.
But Hou Feng’s appearance disrupted everything. In just a few hundred years, his strength had reached such heights.
“Even if we return and delay for a time against all odds,” Imperial Majesty Lei Fu said softly, “In another few hundred or thousand years, I fear Hou Feng will break through to the High Eldritch phase, growing strong enough to slay us in direct confrontation.”
This was an almost inevitable outcome! When Wu Yuan completely dominated the battle against the three Imperial Majesties, it spelled the immortal race’s doom.
“You two. Lei Fu and I have discussed leaving Huanggu and heading for the outer realms,” Imperial Majesty Nan You’s gaze swept over the two men. “Are you willing to follow?”
Head for the outer realms? Heavenly Master Lei Guang and Heavenly Master Jiu Zhu hesitated.
For millions of years, numerous legends of the Archeldritches had circulated throughout the land. There had long been rumors that there were even larger worlds beyond.
Many High Eldritches and High Immortals had attempted to leave Huanggu in the past. As for Earth Immortals? They lacked the ability to break free from the world’s constraints, and the further they traveled from the ground, the stronger the constraints became.
However, while High Immortals and High Eldritch could break free from the world’s constraints, none had sent back any news. No one knew whether they lived or died. Thus, gradually, fewer and fewer powerhouses attempted it.
“If you don’t go to the outer realms, then what? Hide and wait for death? Wait for the eldritch race to capture you?” Imperial Majesty Lei Fu snorted coldly. “By heading to the outer realms, we might survive and perhaps even find great opportunities.
If we truly become Archimmortals, we might be able to come back to Huanggu like the Archeldritches of old and take revenge,” Imperial Majesty Lei Fu enticed.
Heavenly Master Lei Guang and Heavenly Master Jiu Zhu looked at each other.
The strongest evidence supporting the theory of ‘outer realms’ was indeed the existence of the Archeldritches.
“Very well, I shall go. I’ll take this gamble alongside the two Imperial Majesties,” Heavenly Master Lei Guang’s eyes flashed with a hint of madness.
“Me too,” Heavenly Master Jiu Zhu said in a resigned voice.
Pushed to the brink, these powerhouses of the immortal race were equally decisive.
Imperial Majesty Lei Fu and Imperial Majesty Nan You exchanged a glance. Although their strength far surpassed Heavenly Master Lei Guang and the others, the future was unknown, and having more individuals on their side was naturally a good thing.
“We must not delay.”
“Let’s go now.”
“Go.” Lightning faintly encircled Imperial Majesty Lei Fu’s body, instantly enveloping Imperial Majesty Nan You, Heavenly Master Lei Guang, and Heavenly Master Jiu Zhu.
Boom! A bolt of lightning shot skyward, swiftly heading into the sky. The majestic mountain ranges on the ground rapidly shrank into pinpricks.
Ten million li…one hundred million li…three hundred million li…five hundred million li!
After ascending five hundred million li from ground level, they found themselves in a vast and boundless void. Below them was the enormous Huanggu World that obscured nearly half their field of vision.
Heaven and earth were boundless! What a magnificent sight it was, yet the immense pressure of the Huanggu World gave Imperial Majesty Lei Fu a feeling of tremendous oppression.
“Continue.” Imperial Majesty Lei Fu gritted his teeth. Imperial Majesty Nan You flew out, and the two joined forces, continuing to charge toward the outer realms.
Eight hundred million li…one billion li!
Finally, they seemed to have broken through the limit of Huanggu world’s constraints. The terrifying pressure that had been weighing on their bodies began to diminish rapidly.
“Excellent.”
“Can we really reach the outer realms?” Imperial Majesty Lei Fu and Imperial Majesty Nan You were overjoyed. They had never been so far from the land before.
After a long while more, they could vaguely see the silhouette of a majestic temple, floating at the edge of the boundless void.
“A temple?”
Before they could ponder further, a beam of rainbow light flashed from the majestic temple.
“Leaving the Primary World while failing to become an Archeldritch is a grave sin! Departing with the Creation Divine Artifacts of the Primary World is a capital offense.” Two voices suddenly rang out.
In an instant, the rainbow light traversed billions of li through the void, sweeping across this expanse of emptiness.
As everything fell still, only a divine cauldron and a bolt of lightning remained suspended in the void.
Imperial Majesty Lei Fu and Imperial Majesty Nan You were dead!
1. Eldritch Deities can cultivate for >1mil years, unlike other High Immortals whose lifespans are 1 mil years. ☜