Yuan's Ascension

Chapter 769: Wu Yuan's Predicament (1)

Whoosh! Whoosh! Countless silhouettes materialized in a dense crowd around Wu Yuan, including figures like Archimmortal Li Shu, Astral Lord Red Devil, Astral Lord Xue Yao, and numerous other Archimmortals and Archdeities.

Over four thousand individuals who had passed the first trial appeared simultaneously on this vast plaza.

Like Wu Yuan, the moment they landed, they all gazed toward the enormous pill-refining cauldrons floating in the distance.

Beneath the cauldrons that dotted the void, roaring flames burned, containing extraordinarily mysterious power. Tens of thousands of cauldrons were arranged in a massive fan shape.

"Pill-refining cauldrons?"

"Does the next trial involve pill refining?" The thousands of Archimmortals and Archdeities were filled with confusion, yet none dared to act rashly.

As they pondered in bewilderment, more silhouettes began to appear on one side of this immense plaza spanning millions of li, each one exuding a powerful aura.

Such intense fluctuations naturally drew the attention of Wu Yuan, Astral Lord Red Devil, and the others, causing them to turn their heads involuntarily, their expressions changing.

"So many people."

"All Archimmortals and Archdeities."

"Are they from other trial grounds?" Wu Yuan furrowed his brow, while Archimmortal Li Shu and the others were utterly astonished as they gazed over.

They saw that a dense mass of silhouettes had appeared at the far end of the plaza, numbering over five thousand figures.

"They're from another trial ground," Archimmortal Li Shu immediately transmitted to Wu Yuan: "Several of them are powerful Archimmortals and Archdeities from my Hanging Moon Palace. It seems that candidates from multiple trial grounds will be taking the second trial together in one place."

Wu Yuan nodded, his gaze sweeping across the thousands of silhouettes, quickly locking onto certain figures.

These individuals were mentioned in Archimmortal Li Shu's intelligence reports as powerhouses who had obtained two or more Black Devil Tokens.

Astral Lord Gu Shou? Wu Yuan spotted an old acquaintance, none other than Astral Lord Gu Shou.

Just as Wu Yuan noticed Astral Lord Gu Shou, the latter's gaze also fell upon Wu Yuan.

Their eyes met, and Wu Yuan's held an unconcealed murderous intent.

Astral Lord Gu Shou smiled faintly, completely unafraid. He too had obtained three Black Devil Tokens in the first trial.

"Astral Lord Red Devil is here too."

"And that High Immortal! That peerless High Immortal from the external world."

"It's their trial ground." This batch of over five thousand newly arrived Archimmortals and Archdeities noticed Wu Yuan's group, scanning for various specific powerhouses.

Naturally, Wu Yuan, Astral Lord Red Devil, and Astral Lord Xue Yao, who had each obtained three Black Devil Tokens, drew the most attention.

However, this realm had invisible restrictions in place, preventing anyone from making a move. Thus, they all remained wary of each other, keeping their distance.

"What is the second trial?"

"No idea."

"Let's wait patiently." The two groups, totaling nearly ten thousand Archimmortals and Archdeities, conversed among themselves.

Time passed.

Boom! Boom! Boom! In less than ten breaths, three more groups of powerhouses arrived in succession. These three groups ranged from just over four thousand to more than five thousand individuals each.

With that, five groups from five trial grounds, totaling about eighteen thousand Archimmortals and Archdeities, had gathered in one place. The massive plaza no longer seemed so spacious.

All the powerhouses observed each other.

Among the five groups, there were over a hundred individuals who had obtained two Black Devil Tokens, with the number varying for each group.

As for those who had obtained three Black Devil Tokens, there were exactly fifteen. Among these fifteen universally acknowledged super powerhouses, the most eye-catching was undoubtedly Wu Yuan – the only High Immortal on the entire plaza.

"The one with the shortest cultivation time, yet the most formidable strength."

"His potential must be the greatest." Almost all powerhouses instinctively viewed Wu Yuan as the biggest threat.

Boom! A subtle, invisible ripple swept over each powerhouse, followed by a cascade of spacetime fluctuations. In an instant, every individual who had been standing on the plaza was simultaneously transported elsewhere.

In a blink, they appeared before the pill-refining cauldrons floating in the void.

One powerhouse appeared before each cauldron. The moment they materialized, enormous transparent barriers appeared simultaneously in a ten-thousand-li radius around each cauldron, completely isolating the space inside.

Each powerhouse was confined within a space with a cauldron of their own.

"What's this?"

"What's going on? Is the second trial really about pill refining?" Wu Yuan, Astral Lord Gu Shou, Astral Lord Red Devil, Astral Lord Xue Yao, and the others grew increasingly perplexed, while also examining the cauldrons.

This cauldron seems to be of the most common type, merely at the level of top-grade spirit equipment. But the furnace fire is quite strong. Wu Yuan observed silently.

Although had perused many pill cultivation methods and was fairly knowledgeable, he had never actually refined pills. After all, his cultivation years were brief, and the vast majority of his energy had been devoted to comprehending the Great Daos. Where would he have found time to study pill cultivation?

Pill cultivation was generally considered a minor cultivation path in mainstream immortal cultivation.

Just as all the powerhouses began looking around in confusion, countless points of light converged, forming a black-robed figure. His gaze was cold as he looked down at everyone. It was Big Devil.

"You have all seen the pill-refining cauldrons before you," the Big Devil began coldly. "On the path of cultivation, it is said that comprehending the Dao is the foundation, but what exactly is the Dao?

The Dao is formless by nature. Only through the workings of heaven and earth and the birth of all things does the Dao gain its unfathomable power. The Dao is inherently hidden within all things," the Big Devil spoke slowly.

The Dao is hidden within all things? Wu Yuan pondered thoughtfully.

The other Archimmortals and Archdeities also listened intently.

"Many monstrous prodigies attain the status of Astral Monarch or even Sovereign early on, but ultimately struggle with the final step of transcendence. This is a symptom of an unstable foundation," the Big Devil pointed at the array of cauldrons.

"The path of cultivation is not just about comprehending the Dao, but also about deeply understanding the natural order of all things.

Pill cultivation, equipment cultivation, and talisman cultivation—these three are the methods of application used by countless cultivators after studying the myriad things of heaven and earth.

Every supreme being has performed profound research into these three methods of application.

The second trial will test your mastery of pill cultivation, equipment cultivation, and talisman cultivation," the Big Devil continued slowly.

Hearing this, the faces of many Archimmortals and Archdeities changed instantly, and even Wu Yuan's expression shifted subtly.

Pill cultivation, equipment cultivation, and talisman cultivation? Wu Yuan felt a twinge of anxiety. He had barely researched any of these, essentially making him a complete novice.

Haha! To think the trial will test my expertise on these minor cultivation paths. My progress in Dao comprehension may be slow, taking billions of years to reach just the sixth-stage Archimmortal phase, but over those long years, I've researched both pill refining and equipment forging extensively. More Archimmortals and Archdeities were rather excited, feeling that their opportunity had arrived. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

This was the norm. Many Archimmortals and Archdeities, after cultivating for eons, would turn to researching pills, equipment, arrays, and the like if they felt they had reached the limit of strength, seeking to promote progress through related fields.

Indeed, many powerhouses would gain inspiration from such pursuits, allowing them to advance continually.

Historically, many master alchemists and array masters never comprehended Laws intentionally, yet unknowingly became Astral Monarchs or even Sovereigns.

This was because pill cultivation, equipment cultivation, and so on inherently involved the profound principles of the workings of heaven and earth.

...

"I know that your strengths vary, and your current levels of mastery in pill cultivation, equipment cultivation, and talisman cultivation differ," the Big Devil looked down at all the Archimmortals and Archdeities, continuing, "Therefore, the requirements for each of you will vary.

To your right is a materials space. Whatever raw materials you need, you can find them there. If it's not available, then it cannot be provided.

To your left are three immortal slips, each containing the Sovereign's teachings and insights on these three cultivation paths. Although only part one is available, making the information relatively surface-level, they are still considered top-tier masterpieces in pill cultivation, equipment cultivation, and talisman cultivation. You may study, comprehend, and draw inspiration from them."

Wu Yuan, Archimmortal Li Shu, Astral Lord Red Devil, and the others all listened attentively.

"Cultivation insights from a Sovereign?"

"Legend has it that Sovereign Black Devil was the foremost pill cultivator within the Dao Realm." Many Archimmortals and Archdeities' eyes grew fervent as they looked towards the three immortal slips to their left.

If they could learn such high-level teachings, this trip would already be worth it.

"Each of the three tests of pill cultivation, equipment cultivation, and talisman cultivation has its own passing requirements. Only by meeting the requirements of each test can you proceed to the next one," the Big Devil continued slowly.

"There is no time limit for the second trial. Completing the requirements of all three tests means passing the second trial.

The first ten to pass the second trial will receive three Black Devil Tokens.

The eleventh to hundredth to pass the second trial will receive two Black Devil Tokens.

The 101st to 3000th to pass the trial will receive one Black Devil Token.

When the 3000th candidate succeeds, the rest will be eliminated," the Big Devil said dispassionately. "Due to insufficient Black Devil Tokens, elimination means death!"

Silence fell!

Everyone was shocked. The first trial had already eliminated about two-thirds of the Archimmortals and Archdeities, which was brutal enough. But this second trial would eliminate over eighty percent of the eighteen thousand candidates?

In an instant, everyone felt the pressure.

"Remember! Pill cultivation, equipment cultivation, and talisman cultivation contain the profound principles of the workings of heaven and earth. Studying them will greatly benefit your cultivation and contribute to you receiving the final inheritance," the Big Devil said coldly.

“The earlier you pass the trial, the better. The more Black Devil Tokens you obtain, the sooner you'll reach the final trial.

Moreover, only by obtaining five Black Devil Tokens will you have the right to leave alive," the Big Devil's gaze swept over the powerhouses. "If you ultimately fail to obtain five Black Devil Tokens, you will inevitably perish."

With that, the Big Devil's figure dispersed.