Yuan's Ascension

Chapter 358: The Nine Treasure Lands

The Dragon Star Immortal Sect stood for countless eons, amassing immeasurable wealth of knowledge and treasures over the years, making up its deep foundation.

The nine treasure lands each held a Dao comprehension treasure, which could aid immortal cultivators in their study of the Dao.

The so called profundities of the Dao are in essence the laws governing the order of heavens and earth. Wu Yuan understood this.

Within heaven and earth, there exist wondrous objects that embody the essence of the Great Dao, manifesting its laws in a tangible way.

The so-called observation of all things and understanding the mind of heaven was essentially about seeking the resonance of the Dao in all things.

Some precious Dao comprehension treasures were invaluable, hastening one’s cultivation progress tenfold, even a hundredfold!

How did the major sects manage to produce powerhouses continuously with each passing generation? These Dao comprehension treasures played a huge role.

Throughout the ages, the Dragon Star Immortal Sect had produced countless immortals who traversed various spacetime planes, some even venturing beyond the macrocosm, and returning with treasures to enrich the sect's cultivation environment.

Out of the numerous treasures procured, only nine were widely known, each regarded as a pillar of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect.

The locations where these treasures resided were known as the nine treasure lands within the sect. These were places where generations of disciples, protectorates, and immortals gathered to study and contemplate the treasures.

Immortal Ruins Mountain. Wu Yuan emerged from the small teleportation array with a sense of anticipation.

The array hung in the sky, offering a view of a distant crimson mountain peak, which towered 100 li high and spread 300 li wide. The body of the mountain was littered with crumbling halls, collapsed walls, and other scattered ruins.

At first glance, it looked like a mountain of ruins!

Yet, Wu Yuan could feel a majestic and ancient aura emanating from the mountain, as if it had existed for countless ages.

Immensely powerful invisible yet tangible waves of heaven and earth’s power radiated in all directions.

As Wu Yuan beheld the mountain from afar, it felt as though he stood before a blazing giant, an immortal being, an endless sea, the vast void... Numerous emotions surged within Wu Yuan's heart in a single moment.

Indeed, Immortal Ruins Mountain, renowned as the foremost of the nine treasure lands, evokes a myriad of emotions in every observer. Wu Yuan marveled inwardly.

It is said that whether one seeks to grasp the mysteries of the five elements or to ponder the nature of Wind or Thunder, one cannot help but feel deeply moved.

Countless revelations, an indomitable grandeur! Wu Yuan held his breath in awe.

The weight of the mountain's presence was overwhelming.

Whoosh! Wu Yuan stepped forward and swiftly flew to a spot approximately 200 li from the mountain. After selecting a floating jade platform at random, he settled into the lotus position.

The treasure land was surrounded by numerous floating jade platforms, each controllable with arrays and numbering close to 100,000 in total. They enabled the various members of the sect to study Immortal Ruins Mountain from different angles.

At present, thousands of immortal cultivators sat in quiet contemplation on floating jade platforms scattered around the mountain.

Shrouded in a mysterious aura, their forms were visible but indistinct, a feature of the array that allowed each individual to concentrate fully on comprehension.

Each cultivator had full control over the protective array that had a one-li radius around their platform. Through the array, they could cordon off the area, forbidding other disciples from disturbing them without permission.

Now this is befitting of an immortal sect. Wu Yuan’s gaze swept over the thousands of cultivators engrossed in meditation. Judging by their vital auras, the majority were at the Amethyst Cradle phase!

“A Golden Core cultivator?”

“Who is it?”

“A Golden Core cultivator dares to contemplate the nine treasure lands? Could it be a hereditary disciple? But I have never seen him before.” Many nearby Amethyst Cradle cultivators cast surreptitious glances at Wu Yuan.

The Dao should not be lightly imparted. Similarly, the Great Dao was difficult to articulate. Not just anyone could contemplate a Dao comprehension treasure.

Among the nine treasure lands, the minimum cultivation requirement to contemplate Immortal Ruins Mountain was quite low: the third-level Domain stage or the Yang Soul level.

If one forcibly contemplated it without a sufficiently strong foundation, it would be harmful rather than beneficial to one’s cultivation.

“It's Li Xia, the newly admitted hereditary disciple who reportedly conquered level 40 of the one-star tower. Quite extraordinary.” Some Amethyst Cradle disciples recognized Wu Yuan.

"So it is.”

"Apparently, he rejected all challenges from other Golden Core hereditary disciples.” These Amethyst Cradle cultivators quickly learned more about him after exchanging information.

However, no one disturbed Wu Yuan. After a brief discussion, these Amethyst Cradle cultivators quickly returned to their quiet cultivation and contemplation.

Legend has it that the Immortal Ruins Mountain is a mere fragment of a mysterious world from an ancient era. Wu Yuan’s gaze was fixed on the distant horizon. Even a single fragment of that mysterious world holds immense power, embodying the profundity of the Great Dao.

Wu Yuan focused on contemplating it.

Though the Immortal Ruins Mountain put intense pressure on his soul, he was able to withstand it without much difficulty. As time elapsed, various revelations flooded his mind.

Three days passed.

An endless expanse of crimson land? A sea of lava stretching as far as the eye can see? And a square inch of a void? Wu Yuan's thoughts coalesced.

Gradually, these three distinct scenes materialized within his consciousness. These visions were not perceived through sight, but rather sensed through Soul Force. They were manifestations of the Dao resonance.

Do these varied scenes symbolize different Dao? The crimson land leans towards the profundity of the Land, yet it seems to hold the profundity of the Fire Dao as well.

As for the other two? Though I can perceive them, they are more nebulous compared to the first scene.

Wu Yuan instinctively understood that if he wished to contemplate the Immortal Ruins Mountain, it was best to do so following the path of the first scene he saw.

There’s no need to rush. This is just the first treasure land I’m visiting. I may possess an affinity for the Fire Dao, but whether to comprehend it or not requires careful consideration. Wu Yuan reflected.

He didn’t mind contemplating other types of Dao. Having read up more, Wu Yuan understood that the myriad Daos of heaven and earth were interconnected. None of them stood absolutely independent from the others.

At times, by contemplating more than one Dao, the convergence of multiple Daos could yield a synergy surpassing mere addition.

However, it had to align with one's nature.

The profundity of Space and the fabled Time Dao are extremely magical and powerful, but without adequate aptitude, contemplating them forcefully would hinder progress.

The best path was the one that suited oneself.

Onwards to the next treasure land. Rising to his feet, Wu Yuan departed, adhering to his initial plan of visiting all nine treasure lands before selecting the most fitting one.

...

Immortal Talisman Divine Stone. Upon reaching the second treasure site, a colossal purple stone came into view.

Measuring 100 li in length, width, and height, the divine stone was carved with dense, inscrutable patterns, each intertwining and merging, encapsulating the profundities of countless Daos.

It is said that a predecessor of the sect once contemplated this divine stone, then went on to craft an inconceivable talisman. Wu Yuan marveled quietly.

For three days, he studied it, only to find his soul wracked with exhaustion.

This treasure land is not suitable for me. Wu Yuan rendered his verdict.

...

Star of Darkness. Wu Yuan fixed his gaze on the distant celestial body that was bound by numerous interlocking chains in space.

Earth Immortal Xiang Sheng had led Wu Yuan’s group past this star when they first entered the sect. Back then, he had merely observed it from afar without contemplating it properly.

To contemplate the Star of Darkness, one’s Dao comprehension must reach the True Intent stage. However, my resilient spirit allows me to contemplate it, albeit barely. Wu Yuan focused on studying Star of Darkness.

The burden on his soul was immense, but he persisted, teeth clenched in determination.

After only a single day, Wu Yuan gained some insights.

This Star of Darkness contains the profundity of the boundless Land converging into what seems like the Celestial Body Dao. Wu Yuan felt that he had seen a side of Star of Darkness that differed from its superficial appearance.

Perhaps it was this aspect of Star of Darkness that suited him, a pure manifestation of the Land's profundity untainted by external influences.

If I continue to contemplate the Star of Darkness, my understanding of the Land's profundity will grow exponentially faster than through my own efforts alone. Wu Yuan concluded, his excitement palpable.

The Star of Darkness was more suitable for him than the Immortal Ruins Mountain.

It is one option. Let’s move on to the next one. Wu Yuan decided to explore all nine treasure lands before making a final decision.

...The Redflame River flowed endlessly, a fiery ribbon snaking through the landscape.

...The Jianmu Root, once connected to the void, now stood as a broken remnant of the legendary Jianmu Tree that was said to encompass the entire macrocosm. Though it had already withered, it still maintained a connection to the void, stretching 100 li in length.

...The Lightning Dragon Claw, a broken fragment of a beast claw, crackled with boundless lightning. Each streak of lightning seemed to roar like a dragon as it flashed through the sky. For millions of years, this claw had contained the profundity of the Lightning Dao.

...

Wu Yuan spent 26 days exploring seven of the nine treasure lands, each one offering new insights into the Dao as he meditated on them. But for two treasures, he felt nothing but a disturbance to his soul, evidence that they were not suitable for him.

All these are treasures aiding in the understanding of the Dao. Some are beyond my understanding and prove unsuitable for me to cultivate, yet the power they hold is undeniable.

He was beginning to understand why the Dragon Star Immortal Sect dared claim itself as the number one sect in the entire immortal continent. Their roots ran deep indeed!

Each Dao comprehension treasure, if revealed to the external world, would undoubtedly ignite fierce competition among countless immortals. Yet, the Dragon Star Immortal Sect boldly displayed them within their sect, allowing their disciples to contemplate them whenever they wished. It seemed they weren’t afraid of theft at all.

The eighth treasure land, Star Origin Soil. Wu Yuan's eyes sparkled with anticipation. According to the sect's records, this treasure land was exceptionally effective in enhancing the comprehension of the Earth Dao.

As he emerged from the teleportation array and gazed into the distance, an expression of disbelief crossed his features.

Before he could even get a good look at the treasure land, the black pagoda nestled within Wu Yuan's upper dantian had begun to tremble.