Yuan’s Ascension

Wu Yuan had spent over ten days contemplating the seventy-three Thunder Beast Diagrams. With each passing day, Wu Yuan grew more astonished to discover how well-suited each diagram's artistic conception was to his own nature.

The profundities of the Dao contained within each Thunder Beast Diagram centered around Longevity, Celestial Body, and True Domain. The Laws of Thunder and Fire were only supplementary aspects.

The thirty-sixth Thunder Beast Diagram resonated most deeply with Wu Yuan. As the diagram with the fewest profundities of Thunder and Fire, it was the most suitable one for Wu Yuan to comprehend.

Rest? Peace? Enjoying life? Perhaps these are the most cherished, carefree aspects of existence. Wu Yuan mused, a faint smile playing across his lips.

Though he yearned to reach the pinnacle of cultivation, deep in his spirit, moments of tranquility were dear to him, such as the years his body refiner self had spent in seclusion in the Middle Land.

Given the choice, Wu Yuan preferred nothing more than to bask in the serenity of an untroubled life.

Wu Yuan exhaled softly, immersing himself in the pressure emanating from the diagram, pondering over its profound artistic conception.

He even lay down on the ground, just as he had when delving into the profundities of the Land in the past. It bore a striking similarity to the thunder beast's posture depicted in the diagram.

To truly grasp the spiritual resonance and artistic conception of this Thunder Beast Diagram, I must emulate it completely. Wu Yuan thought, disregarding the curious gazes of the surrounding immortal cultivators.

The lotus position, with one's upper body aligned with the heavens, had long been considered the optimal posture for Dao comprehension throughout the vast macrocosm. Yet it was not universally applicable to all individuals or circumstances.

Meanwhile, within Wu Yuan's internal shambhala, surging vital ether roiled, pulverizing one second-grade Thunder Beast Stone after another.

Most Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses would never think of doing such a thing, for it obliterated the power of thunder within, leaving only its core Dao patterns. What was the point of that?

A single second-grade Thunder Beast Stone was valuable enough to make even Void Refiner/Elysian Field powerhouses salivate with desire.

Thus, the secret of combining Thunder Beast Stone cores to form Thunder Beast Diagrams remained unknown even to the ordinary Earth Immortals and High Immortals of the six major sects.

Over the next few hours, more than eight hundred second-grade Thunder Beast Stones were reduced to dust. Countless streaks of lightning dispersed, causing Wu Yuan's internal shambhala to shimmer with innumerable flashes of thunder.

However, Wu Yuan's soul essence focused solely on the thousand Dao pattern diagram fragments from Thunder Beast Stones now floating within his internal shambhala.

Combine! Wu Yuan gave a mental command.

Instantly, the thousand Dao pattern diagram fragments began to dance, swiftly overlapping with the projected image of the Thunder Beast Diagram.

Just as Wu Yuan had anticipated, the fragments coalesced into a single, massive, and complete Thunder Beast Diagram in mere moments. The instant it formed, a faint yet distinct spiritual resonance and pressure manifested.

Success! Wu Yuan's heart leaped with excitement, only for him to quickly realize: it seems the artistic conception and spiritual resonance are significantly weaker than those of a true Thunder Beast Diagram.

Still, Wu Yuan did not feel disheartened.

At the very least, I can continue to comprehend it even after leaving the Thunder Marsh World. Wu Yuan thought with a smile.

Suddenly, a disturbance rippled through his internal shambhala. Not far from where he stood, the previously dormant milky-white orb of light flashed violently.

The Thunder Marsh Spirit? Wu Yuan startled.

Before he could react, the orb-like Thunder Marsh Spirit darted forward, plunging directly into the newly constructed Thunder Beast Diagram formed from the three hundred Thunder Beast Stone Dao pattern fragments!

In that instant, a thunderous boom reverberated as the Thunder Marsh Spirit erupted. Countless lightning bolts danced across the surface of the Thunder Beast Diagram, causing its aura to surge dramatically. Both its pressure and spiritual resonance began to climb rapidly.

Oh? The fusion of Thunder Beast Stones and the Thunder Marsh Spirit produces such an unexpected transformation? Wu Yuan's eyes glimmered with surprise and delight.

Swiftly, the power manifested by the Thunder Beast Diagram within Wu Yuan's internal shambhala grew until it matched the level of the Dao pattern diagram on the stone wall. As the Thunder Marsh Spirit continued to flicker, its pressure and spiritual resonance rose, growing closer to perfection.

…

Just as it surpassed the level of the Dao pattern diagram on the stone wall, an immeasurable, formless pressure descended from all directions within Wu Yuan's internal shambhala.

Though this pressure did not seem particularly strong at first glance, it sent a shiver of fear through Wu Yuan's heart!

This pressure seemed to ignore the constraints of space, manifesting directly within Wu Yuan's internal shambhala from some unknowable source. It bore down directly upon every facet of his soul.

Rumble~ Wu Yuan felt his entire soul quake, his mind ringing like a struck bell. Even his upper dantian lobe seemed to destabilize.

This pressure, while similar to a soul attack, was entirely different. It instinctively evoked a profound sense of terror within Wu Yuan. It left him feeling as though he was facing the very heavens themselves, utterly powerless to resist.

Wu Yuan could only watch helplessly as this pressure swept over him. Yet he had a vague sense that the ultimate target of this soul-crushing force was not himself, but rather—the Thunder Beast Diagram now fused with the Thunder Marsh Spirit.

Crack! Wu Yuan's soul essence could only look on in horror as countless fissures appeared on the surface of the Thunder Beast Diagram he had painstakingly constructed, its aura and pressure still in the midst of rising.

Damn it! Wu Yuan gritted his teeth, struggling to resist.

Hum~ The pressure intensified slightly, rendering Wu Yuan's soul essence completely immobile. The disparity between them was as vast as the gulf between heaven and earth.

At that moment, an invisible ripple suddenly emanated from the black pagoda, enveloping Wu Yuan completely.

Instantly, the unfathomable and terrifying pressure vanished without a trace. As if it had never existed at all.

It took a long moment for Wu Yuan to fully regain his senses. His heart pounded with shock.

Where did that mysterious, formless pressure come from? Did the black pagoda save me once again? Wu Yuan's thoughts turned to the black pagoda within his upper dantian lobe.

Unfortunately, the black pagoda remained as silent and still as ever, as if it had nothing to do with the invisible ripple that had shielded Wu Yuan.

Thank you. Wu Yuan silently expressed his gratitude.

His attention returned to the Thunder Beast Diagram he had constructed within his internal shambhala...and froze in astonishment.

At this moment, the aura and pressure emanating from this Thunder Beast Diagram—formed from the cores of Thunder Beast Stones and the Thunder Marsh Spirit—far surpassed that of the Dao pattern diagram on the stone wall. Its spiritual resonance and artistic conception were leagues beyond!

It was as if this was the original, and the Thunder Beast Diagram etched onto the stone wall outside was merely an imitation.

This...? Wu Yuan's heart surged with both shock and joy.

He was shocked that such a Thunder Beast Diagram, surpassing the original, had appeared before him. It was utterly astounding.

He rejoiced because with such a Thunder Beast Diagram, he could perceive it with much greater clarity, and his comprehension efficiency would far exceed what he could achieve by observing the original Thunder Beast Diagram.

Though it had cost him a great number of Thunder Beast Stones and the Thunder Marsh Spirit, the price was well worth it.

So a large number of Thunder Beast Stones and the Thunder Marsh Spirit can form such a Thunder Beast Diagram? Wu Yuan pondered.

But then, his mind flashed back to that formless pressure, as indomitable as the heavens themselves. Without the protection of the black pagoda, this incredible Thunder Beast Diagram before him would surely have been destroyed.

If my conjecture is correct, that wave of pressure just now must have originated from the essence of the vast heaven and earth. This Thunder Beast Diagram likely exceeded the limits permitted by heaven and earth's essence. Wu Yuan mused silently.

The operation of heaven and earth's essence did not allow for the external manifestation of a Great Dao’s essence that transcended time and space.

The Thunder Beast Diagrams on the stone walls of the plaza outside probably contain the profundities of the Dao and spiritual resonance at a depth permitted by this vast heaven and earth—merely the most superficial profundities of this Great Dao's essence. Wu Yuan's gaze fell upon the distant Thunder Beast Diagram.

This Thunder Beast Diagram, however, likely represents the true, complete profundities of the Thunder Beast Diagram, unrestrained by heaven and earth's essence!

Beyond Wu Yuan's own efforts, this was the result of the numerous second-grade Thunder Beast Stones, the Thunder Marsh Spirit, and insights gleaned from countless Thunder Beast Diagrams. And of course—the black pagoda!

According to Master Kua Chi, there are only dozens of relics similar to the Thunder Beast Diagrams in the entire macrocosm? Wu Yuan pondered silently. Could it be that even my Master and his peers are unable to resist the pressure of heaven and earth's essence? Incapable of creating such marvels?

Wu Yuan couldn't be certain of this.

Take Astral Monarch Wan Lei, for instance. He had left behind the Thunder Marsh World, numerous Thunder Beast Diagrams, and even the Thunder Beast Stones he created contained traces of a Great Dao’s essence.

What about Sovereigns? They were beings who completely surpassed Astral Monarchs, truly mastering a Greater Law, and were considered unrivaled throughout the macrocosm.

I'm not sure if Master can achieve this, but I'm certain the black pagoda can. Wu Yuan thought, shaking his head slightly.

The black pagoda was unfathomably mysterious! Every time he glimpsed its wondrous abilities, his heart trembled with awe.

The being who created the black pagoda must be an unparalleled powerhouse, surpassing even the Sovereigns. Wu Yuan mused silently. The Origin Pagoda? The black pagoda in my upper dantian lobe is likely not its true form.

As his cultivation level increased and he understood more of the profundities of heaven and earth, Wu Yuan felt increasingly insignificant.

As the saying goes: the more you know, the more you realize how little you know.

Never mind.Those matters are far beyond my reach. This Thunder Beast Diagram is the result of the black pagoda's assistance and my own efforts. Wu Yuan smiled softly.

If he hadn't seized this opportunity and devoted himself to comprehending the Thunder Beast Diagram, the black pagoda wouldn't have been able to help him.

…

The Thunder Beast Diagrams on the stone walls outside might be treasures, but in the eyes of Astral Monarchs and Sovereigns, they’re probably insignificant. Otherwise, they wouldn't have been left there for millions of years. Wu Yuan muttered to himself.

Within his internal shambhala, Wu Yuan's soul essence observed this newly forged Thunder Beast Diagram, born from piecing together numerous fragments.

Once formed, it can't be separated again? Was it the Thunder Marsh Spirit that merged the Dao pattern diagram fragments from three hundred Thunder Beast Stones into one? Wu Yuan pondered, processing the information he gleaned from this new diagram.

This new Thunder Beast Diagram contains deeper Dao profundities than the Dao pattern diagram on the stone wall. Most importantly, the spiritual resonance contained within the diagram is dozens of times stronger. Wu Yuan's eyes gleamed with excitement.

A spiritual resonance dozens of times stronger didn't mean it was dozens of times more precious. It could be thousands or tens of thousands of times more valuable!

Moreover, given the black pagoda's miraculous nature, Wu Yuan wondered if there was another Thunder Beast Diagram of the same caliber in the entire macrocosm.

Of course, Wu Yuan didn't dare to be too certain. After all, the macrocosm was vast, and perhaps someone else had experienced an equally miraculous encounter.

However, after this transformation, calling it a Thunder Beast Diagram doesn't seem appropriate anymore. I'll call it…

For some inexplicable reason, as if guided by an invisible power, a term suddenly flashed through Wu Yuan's mind. He murmured to himself, "Creation, the Creation Essence Diagram."

Creating all things, birthing life. This mysterious Great Dao Essence Diagram subtly encompassed the Law of Life, making Wu Yuan feel that the name 'Creation' perfectly captured its profound nature.

Creation!

I hope this Creation Essence Diagram will truly allow me to fathom the workings of creation and comprehend the profundities of the Law of Life. Wu Yuan thought as he settled his mind.

He calmed himself, fully immersing in the contemplation of the newly born Creation Essence Diagram within his internal shambhala.

As he did so, his understanding of the spiritual resonance within the diagram began to skyrocket.