Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Simultaneously, nine lifelike phantoms materialized throughout the space, indistinguishable from the real Wu Yuan.
Though this body did not cultivate the Dao patterns of the ether art ‘Rending The Heavens’, his Dao comprehension remained. Thus, Wu Yuan could easily create nine lifelike phantoms.
If his true self were here, he could manifest thirty-six lifelike phantoms with a single thought, as long as there were no restrictions.
The nine lifelike phantoms each performed a different action as they charged towards the silver-robed figure.
At the same time, a hazy Dao fluctuation completely enveloped Wu Yuan— Life True Intent.
Kill! Wu Yuan lunged directly at the silver-robed figure.
He knew that his chances of clearing level nine on the first attempt were astronomically low, but Wu Yuan refused to concede defeat.
If he allowed the guardian to make the first move, he might lose any chance of winning from the get go. So, from the very beginning, he had to unleash everything, giving it his all.
A combat space of ten thousand li? For someone of Wu Yuan’s level, though it was difficult to reach maximum speed instantly, it would take just over two seconds to close the distance.
Throughout it all, the silver-robed figure remained motionless, as if oblivious to Wu Yuan’s assault.
Eight thousand li…five thousand li…three thousand li!
In a flash, the distance between Wu Yuan and the silver-robed figure had shrunk to less than a thousand li. He raised his dual sabers, prepared to unleash his mightiest strike.
At that instant, the silver-robed figure finally moved. It raised a hand, grasping a saber. The other saber remained suspended in the air.
Boom! Like a thunderbolt piercing the heavens, or as if time itself had slowed, the silver-robed figure closed the thousand li in an instant, appearing before Wu Yuan.
Wu Yuan’s eyes widened in shock.
He had no time to react. He could only stare fixedly at the pair of eyes beneath the silver mask. They were cold and deathly still!
Whoosh! The saber struck, like a bolt of lightning across the cosmos. Countless dazzling sparks seemed to erupt from within the blade ray, containing a terrifying power that shook the soul. It felt as though an entire world was being forged anew…
Slash! The blade ray passed through Wu Yuan’s body, swift as lightning and ethereal as mist. His form instantly dissolved.
Challenge failed!
…
This…this saber strike. Wu Yuan’s consciousness instantly returned to his true body. His heart trembled as he stood rooted to the spot.
That dazzling, incomprehensibly powerful strike had defeated him in an instant! He replayed the moment over and over again in his mind.
In the face of this saber strike, all the combat secret arts and saber codexes he had ever comprehended seemed to pale into insignificance.
That flash of the blade ray seemed to contain the most fundamental and immeasurable power.
The Dao. In the face of this strike, my comprehension and the saber techniques I’ve cultivated seem laughably inadequate. Wu Yuan vaguely realized. This strike likely represents a profound interpretation of an Essence Dao, though I cannot fathom its true level.
How keen was Wu Yuan’s insight? He had learned numerous powerful saber techniques, many of them saber codexes created by Astral Lords and Astral Monarchs who had poured their hearts and souls into their creation.
The secret arts within the Immortal Belvedere were equally formidable, some even reaching the level of Sovereign combat secret arts.
In terms of power, the ultimate steps of many saber techniques far surpassed this single strike from the level nine guardian. Yet none could evoke that sense of sheer awe in Wu Yuan! This strike was truly transcendent.
It could be said that from this moment on, Wu Yuan finally witnessed the true might of the Essence Daos.
In terms of absolute power, this strike probably doesn’t reach the level of Life Dao Field, perhaps around the eighth-level True Intent stage of the Life Dao. Wu Yuan could only make a rough estimate. The gap in strength was too vast for accurate judgment.
Assuming that I don’t comprehend an Essence Great Dao, if I want to reach the seventh-level True Intent stage of the Life Dao in just four hundred years?
Wu Yuan immediately felt the pressure and realized the immense difficulty. Success seemed almost impossible!
The fourth-level True Intent stage of the Life Dao was the baseline for an Eighth Tribulation Archimmortal.
The seventh-level True Intent stage of the Life Dao was the baseline for a Ninth Tribulation Archimmortal, an Astral Lord.
And the Dao Field stage of the Life Dao could rival an Astral Monarch’s Dao comprehension.
To clear level one hundred of the three-star tower, one only needs to reach the fourth-level True Intent stage of a Greater Law. Wu Yuan mused.
His progress had been rapid enough. In just a few centuries, he had advanced from the first-level True Intent stage of the Life Dao to the third-level True Intent stage.
With his newfound insights into the Law of Space, Wu Yuan now stood a slim chance of conquering level one hundred of the three-star tower.
Given a few more centuries of cultivation, reaching the fourth or even fifth level of Life True Intent wouldn’t be too challenging. By then, conquering level one hundred of the three-star tower would be easy.
But the eighth-level True Intent stage? Such profound comprehension would be impressive even for an Astral Lord, marking one as a true top-tier Archimmortal.
To expect Wu Yuan to reach this in a mere four hundred years?
Under normal circumstances, it’s simply impossible. Wu Yuan furrowed his brow, recognizing the immense difficulty.
The leap from the sixth to seventh level of True Intent was already a qualitative transformation. Even level one hundred of the four-star tower only required seventh-level True Intent of a Greater Law.
In other words, if Wu Yuan could defeat the level nine guardian, he’d be confident in conquering level one hundred of the four-star tower.
The four-star tower is meant to be challenged between one thousand and ten thousand years of age.
So, reaching the seventh-level True Intent stage of a Greater Law before ten thousand years old is considered the standard for Supreme Geniuses. Wu Yuan shook his head slightly. Yet level nine of the Creation Tower demands I achieve this by seven hundred years old?
Wu Yuan himself was barely over three hundred years old. Such a requirement was utterly preposterous!
Wu Yuan was already hailed as the greatest genius in the history of the Greenridge Macrocosm.
To date, besides Wu Yuan, the Eternal Sun Immortal World had never produced a monstrous prodigy meeting the Supreme Genius standard.
No wonder that Creation Emissary, despite knowing my exceptional talent and strength, still believed my chances of clearing level nine and obtaining a second-grade opportunity were slim. Wu Yuan mused.
A spark of curiosity ignited within Wu Yuan’s heart.
What kind of miraculous reward could possibly be worthy of such an unparalleled monstrous prodigy? The Immutable Land grew increasingly mysterious in his mind.
Level nine is out of my reach for now. Let’s try level eight and seven instead. Wu Yuan decided.
Time flowed on.
Wu Yuan’s consciousness was once again drawn into that mysterious battle space, where he faced off against the guardians of level eight and seven in succession.
He failed both times!
However, while both attempts ended in failure, the circumstances were vastly different.
The level eight guardian’s combat prowess seems roughly equivalent to the sixth-level True Intent stage of Life. Wu Yuan pondered. level seven guardian’s strength is on par with the fourth-level True Intent stage.
Against the level eight guardian, his defeat was swift and decisive – Wu Yuan only withstood three saber strikes.
With level seven guardian, he engaged in a prolonged battle before finally succumbing.
If I cultivate systematically, I have a ninety percent chance of passing level seven within four hundred years, making a third-grade opportunity quite attainable. Wu Yuan roughly estimated.
There’s a ten percent chance of conquering level eight.
The probability of passing level nine is zero! Wu Yuan shook his head slightly. He couldn’t see even a glimmer of hope!
When opportunity knocks, one should seize it. One should always harbor lofty ambitions.
However, if the gap was too vast, too ridiculous, it became unrealistic to pursue further.
Let’s try level six next. Wu Yuan thought, his consciousness descending swiftly to engage the level six guardian in battle.
Victory!
“Congratulations, upon leaving, you qualify for a fourth-grade opportunity,” an indifferent voice echoed in Wu Yuan’s ears.
Wu Yuan sighed inwardly, at least he had secured a baseline reward.
Time to exit.
Whoosh! Wu Yuan landed on the ground, his gaze sweeping across the ring of Creation Essence Diagrams and secret art sacred mountains. The situation was now clear to him, and the circumstances equally apparent.
If I continue down my previous path, focusing solely on comprehending the Law of Life, I’m destined to leave with only a third-grade opportunity. Wu Yuan pondered silently.
To seize a second-grade opportunity, there was only one path – to comprehend an Essence Great Dao!
These Creation Essence Diagrams and the secret art sacred mountains placed in this test site – my hope of passing level nine’s test likely lies within them. Wu Yuan realized.
However, should he truly embark on this path? Wu Yuan hadn’t forgotten Master Kua Chi’s warning – the path of comprehending the Essence Great Daos, though enticing, was fraught with numerous hardships.
If I delve into comprehending these Creation Essence Diagrams, my progress in the Law of Life might be hindered… By then, I might not even conquer level seven. Wu Yuan mused.
The fourth-level True Intent stage of Life seemed like a small step up from the third-level True Intent stage, but one had to remember that this was a Greater Law! Each advancement was incredibly challenging.
If he divided his attention, it might take centuries for Wu Yuan to break through, even with his aptitude.
Two paths lay before Wu Yuan – one relatively safe, almost guaranteeing a third-grade opportunity. The other was risky, but if successful, the rewards would be immense.
He spent a long time deliberating.
I’ll take the gamble. With such an opportunity before me, if I let it slip by, I might regret it for eons. A glint of determination shone in Wu Yuan’s eyes.
In his younger years, he might have chosen the safer route. But after the mental transformation brought about by Life True Intent, many of Wu Yuan’s choices subtly changed.
Sometimes, only by giving one’s all could one live without regrets.
Throughout the history of the Greenridge Macrocosm, no one has successfully traversed the path of an Essence Great Dao, but that’s because their talent and strength were insufficient. Wu Yuan felt somewhat confident. However, my talent now stands at the pinnacle.
When Master gave me his advice, I hadn’t yet revealed such unparalleled talent. I must at least try.
Wu Yuan hesitated no longer. He sat down in the lotus position, his Soul Will spreading out, his divine eyes blazing with light as he threw himself wholeheartedly into cultivation.
He began to study the 365 Creation Essence Diagrams, each one unfathomably profound. The thunder beasts depicted in the Essence Diagrams seemed to come alive, appearing utterly miraculous.
Creation encompasses life. Space, Earth, Wood, Thunder, Fire… Wu Yuan continuously analyzed the profundities of the Dao contained within the Creation Essence Diagrams.
The more he analyzed and comprehended, the more he marveled, sensing the inconceivable power they held.
As time flowed on, Wu Yuan’s understanding of these Thunder Beast Diagrams gradually deepened.