Yuan's Ascension-Chapter 1038: Wu Yuans Return (2)

In the Eldritch Court Voidrealm, at the core of the Long Shan Plane, within the misty, ethereal temple where Overlord Ming Zhun resided.

Hmm? The cerulean-robed Overlord Ming Zhun suddenly opened his eyes, a hint of surprise flashing across them. He's back?

Just now, he had received a message from the voidrealm spirit of the Eldritch Court Voidrealm—Wu Yuan had entered the Eldritch Court Voidrealm, and his approximate location was in the Creation Dao Realm.

After more than twenty thousand years, Wu Yuan had finally returned.

"Immediately request a meeting with Overlord Huan Jin and Overlord Hou Jue," Overlord Ming Zhun promptly began transmitting messages. "Mm, wait until the two Overlords arrive before sending a message to Wu Yuan."

He felt it was time to have a chat with Wu Yuan.

...

In the Eldritch Court Voidrealm, on the Ling Jiang Plane.

Wu Yuan's authority within the Eldritch Court Voidrealm was comparable to that of a late-stage Sovereign powerhouse. Thus, while in the Long Shan Universe, he had direct access to the Ling Jiang Plane.

The Ling Jiang Plane was a super-plane, encompassing the entire Ling Jiang Saintdom of the Eldritch Court. It had many smaller sub-planes, belonging to different branch factions under the Saintdom.

The Cang Feng Plane was one such sub-plane. In its core region stood a sprawling group of halls.

Within one of the majestic temples, several figures sat in lotus position, each exuding an extraordinary aura. All of them were Astral Monarchs.

They were all Astral Monarchs directly under Wu Yuan's command, members of the Yuan Realm. However, Wu Yuan had not summoned them for the past ten thousand years, seemingly having vanished. These Astral Monarchs simply left a strand of consciousness in this temple.

Whoosh! Wu Yuan appeared out of thin air on the towering throne, looking down at those below. In an instant, the entire temple erupted with boundless radiance. The brilliance was so intense it illuminated the entire Cang Feng Plane.

"Hmm?"

"What's happening?"

"It's the Sovereign! The Sovereign has returned." The Astral Monarchs who had been sitting quietly on the jade platforms sensed something, their eyes snapping open.

They immediately saw the towering figure on the throne.

"We pay our respects to the Sovereign."

"We pay our respects to the Sovereign." A thunderous chorus of voices echoed throughout the temple as over a hundred Astral Monarchs bowed respectfully.

"Astral Monarch Hou Qu, stay behind. The rest of you, withdraw," Wu Yuan said calmly.

His voice was calm, yet it resonated like the ruler of heaven, echoing throughout every corner of the temple and penetrating deep into the hearts of these Astral Monarchs.

"Yes." The hundred-plus Astral Monarchs bowed respectfully, then rose and exited the temple. Their faces showed no disappointment, but rather excitement.

Finally, only Astral Monarch Hou Qu remained in the hall.

"Sovereign." Astral Monarch Hou Qu was deeply respectful as he slightly raised his head to look at Wu Yuan.

This single glance left Astral Monarch Hou Qu astonished. He felt that Wu Yuan's aura had become even more ethereal and unfathomable since they last met twenty thousand years ago. Now, he seemed even more mysterious and noble than Sovereign Kua Chi, Sovereign Cang Feng, and the other Sovereigns.

Of course, within the voidrealm, Astral Monarch Hou Qu's perception was limited, and he dared not make any judgment.

"What major events have occurred in the eldritch world over the past twenty thousand years? How fares the Summerpeak lineage?" Wu Yuan asked.

"Reporting to the Sovereign. During your disappearance, the eldritch world and the Eternal Sun Immortal World have each occupied half the territory of the macrocosm..." Astral Monarch Hou Qu quickly began to explain.

Wu Yuan listened silently.

"At present, there is constant resistance in the newly occupied territories of the eldritch world, but these are all minor issues," Astral Monarch Hou Qu continued. "The Summerpeak faction has been developing steadily. They have now produced over a thousand High Immortals and High Deities. Young Mistress Wu Yijun, Fang Xia, and the others have already attained Archimmortal-level comprehension."

Astral Monarch Hou Qu understood Wu Yuan's personality and knew what information he wanted to hear.

"Not bad," Wu Yuan finally spoke.

Astral Monarch Hou Qu inwardly sighed in relief. Over the last twenty thousand years, he had been in charge of the Yuan Realm on Wu Yuan's behalf. All this time, he had feared that Wu Yuan might have died somewhere or that he might be discontent with his efforts when he returned.

"Additionally, the strongest member of the Summerpeak lineage is now Gu Qi," Astral Monarch Hou Qu added. "He has become a Fifth Tribulation High Deity, and his Dao comprehension is nearly at the Astral Lord level."

"Gu Qi?" Wu Yuan nodded slightly. He was considered half a disciple to Wu Yuan. It appeared he had now grown somewhat. But overall, the Summerpeak faction was still too weak.

Boom! The entire temple suddenly trembled slightly as two figures radiating powerful auras appeared.

"Sovereign Cang Feng, Sovereign Kua Chi." Astral Monarch Hou Qu hurriedly bowed.

"Hou Qu, you may withdraw. When my true body returns, I will summon you again and reward you," Wu Yuan said.

"Thank you, Sovereign." Astral Monarch Hou Qu bowed again and quickly left, understanding that the three Sovereigns had important matters to discuss.

"Master, Sovereign Cang Feng," Wu Yuan smiled. "Please, be seated."

Whoosh! With a wave of his hand, three tables materialized, each laden with wine and delicacies. In the voidrealm, food tasted exactly the same as in the physical world.

"You rascal, disappearing for twenty thousand years without sending any word back," Sovereign Cang Feng chuckled. "Come, Kua Chi, let's sit down."

Sovereign Kua Chi nodded.

The three Sovereigns chatted amongst themselves, with Wu Yuan doing most of the talking while Sovereign Cang Feng and Sovereign Kua Chi listened.

"I was trapped in that exploration site of the Creation Dao Realm for over twenty thousand years," Wu Yuan smiled. "I just managed to break free and immediately returned to the Cang Feng Plane."

With Sovereign Cang Feng present, there were some things Wu Yuan couldn't openly discuss with Sovereign Kua Chi.

No, regarding the matter of the Dao Master's inheritance, Wu Yuan didn't dare to be careless at all, not revealing even the slightest hint.

"It's good that you've broken free." Sovereign Cang Feng nodded and said, "Encountering some danger while on adventures is inevitable. By the way, you should know about the news of the macrocosm being split in two, right?"

"Yes, I've heard about it," Wu Yuan smiled faintly. "That Ming Jian has already become an Overlord. He has indeed kept the agreement he made with me back then."

"He has indeed kept his word, but you still need to be careful," Sovereign Cang Feng said solemnly. "There's no guarantee that Ming Jian isn't bluffing, just waiting for your true self to return so he can kill you.

"Wu Yuan, for the time being, your true self must not return to the Greenridge Macrocosm." Sovereign Cang Feng looked at Wu Yuan.

Beside him, Sovereign Kua Chi froze for a moment upon hearing this. He glanced at Sovereign Cang Feng.

"Sovereign Cang Feng, don't worry," Wu Yuan smiled faintly. "Although Overlord Ming Jian's strength is impressive, I'm not afraid of a fight if it comes down to it."

"Not afraid of him?" Sovereign Cang Feng was first stunned, then asked excitedly, "Wu Yuan, have you attained Overlord strength?"

Sovereign Kua Chi's eyes widened in shock as he looked at Wu Yuan.

"More or less," Wu Yuan replied vaguely.

"Hahaha! Excellent! Excellent!" Sovereign Cang Feng exclaimed excitedly, leaping to his feet with eyes blazing. "An Overlord! It usually requires reaching the ninth-level Dao Field stage... How many Overlords are there in the entire Saintdom? To think our Cang Feng Eldritch World has truly produced an Overlord."

Wu Yuan couldn't help but smile at Sovereign Cang Feng's uncharacteristic loss of composure.

He understood Sovereign Cang Feng's thoughts. If he became an Overlord, his status within the Ling Jiang Saintdom of the Eldritch Court would skyrocket. For Sovereigns like Cang Feng, it would be akin to gaining a powerful backer.

The status of a Sovereign who had an Overlord’s support naturally differed from one without such backing.

On the other hand, Wu Yuan's qi refiner self had put immense pressure on Sovereign Cang Feng.

In Sovereign Cang Feng's eyes, the Ming Jian Realm presided over by Overlord Ming Jian, which ruled four immortal worlds, posed a huge threat. The eldritch world’s very existence hung by a thread, entirely at the mercy of the other’s whim.

"Impressive. I always knew you'd become an Overlord, but never expected it to happen so soon," Sovereign Cang Feng mused, not doubting Wu Yuan's words for a moment. There was no point in deception.

"By my reckoning, you should have possessed Overlord-level power not long after that Ming Jian fellow," Sovereign Cang Feng said with a chuckle.

The massive boulder that had weighed on his heart for thousands of years finally lifted in this moment. In his view, with Wu Yuan becoming an Overlord, the Cang Feng Eldritch World finally had the confidence to divide the macrocosm equally with the Ming Jian Realm.

"Wu Yuan, when do you plan to return to the Ling Jiang Universe?" Sovereign Kua Chi suddenly asked.

"It will likely still be some time, Master," Wu Yuan replied.

"Mm, safety first," Sovereign Kua Chi advised. Knowing of Wu Yuan's two true selves, he had never worried about the Ming Jian Realm's invasion from the start. Seeing Wu Yuan's body refiner self unharmed today, he could finally set his mind at ease completely.

"Hm?" Wu Yuan's eyebrows suddenly twitched as he said softly, "Master, Sovereign Cang Feng, Overlord Hou Jue wishes to speak with me."

"Overlord Hou Jue?"

"Go quickly," both Sovereign Kua Chi and Sovereign Cang Feng urged.

...

In the Eldritch Court Voidrealm.

At the highest point of the Long Shan plane stood a temple - this was Overlord Ming Zhun's residence.

Whoosh! Wu Yuan appeared outside the temple, immediately noticed by the group of Astral Monarchs guarding it.

"It's Sovereign Wu Yuan."

"Wu Yuan? Wasn't he an Astral Monarch? He's already become a Sovereign?" The group of Astral Monarchs and divine guards were inwardly amazed, but the indication from the voidrealm couldn't be mistaken.

They all bowed slightly in greeting.

"Sovereign Wu Yuan, the Overlords await you in the temple," the leading Astral Monarch said respectfully.

"Mm." Wu Yuan nodded lightly before flying into the temple, passing through the dim corridors before entering the main hall.

Inside stood three figures emanating majestic and powerful auras, each with a hint of eternal Dao resonance, extraordinary without exception.

"Wu Yuan greets the Overlords," Wu Yuan said with a slight bow.

Though he now had sufficient strength, he had yet to reveal it, thus a bit more courtesy wouldn't hurt.

"You've returned?" Overlord Hou Jue smiled, seeming quite pleased.

Over the past twenty thousand years, Overlord Ming Zhun had only paid attention to Wu Yuan on occasion, but Overlord Hou Jue had been worried constantly, fearing Wu Yuan might have died.

"Yes, I've escaped," Wu Yuan nodded, sensing Overlord Hou Jue's concern.

"Oh?" The purple-robed Overlord Huan Jin, resembling a beautiful matron, suddenly brightened as she stared at Wu Yuan. "Wu Yuan, has your spirit and will reached the Overlord level?"

Her words startled both Overlord Ming Zhun and Overlord Hou Jue. Wu Yuan was equally surprised.

Within the voidrealm, the aura one emitted was determined by their authority in the voidrealm. His current authority was only that of a late-stage Sovereign, so his vital aura naturally couldn't compare to the three Overlords.

However, for those who had comprehended a Great Dao to the ninth-level Dao Field stage, that intangible eternal Dao resonance couldn't be concealed, nor could the voidrealm imitate it.

While spirit and will also couldn't be hidden or imitated, Wu Yuan hadn't deliberately unleashed it, yet Overlord Huan Jin had still detected it? As expected of an Overlord of Spacetime.

"Yes, I made some gains during the twenty thousand years I was trapped," Wu Yuan nodded in acknowledgment. There was no harm in revealing some of his strength.

"You've truly reached it?"

"In just over a hundred thousand years, your spiritual cultivation matches an Overlord's?" Overlord Ming Zhun and Overlord Hou Jue no longer doubted it, but were shocked by this revelation.