Yuan's Ascension

Chapter 371: Level 47, Conquer!

All guardians and challengers of the one-star tower had their cultivation level fixed at the first-stage Golden Core phase (sixth-degree immortal root).

Of course, if a body refiner challenged the tower, they could adjust their avatar’s configuration to the first-stage Spiritual Body phase instead. The impact wasn’t significant.

"It has been a long time since I’ve last seen you," the black-robed guardian spoke with an air of indifference. "You've been absent for eight years, I assume you must be feeling confident."

"You remember me?" Wu Yuan's surprise was evident.

He began to realize that the Seven Towers World was far more complex than he had assumed. The guardians seemed to possess a high level of intelligence, akin to artifact spirits.

"Naturally. I am the guardian of levels forty to forty-nine," the black-robed guardian stated nonchalantly. "The only difference is that the strength I exhibit grows with each level, and I may even control multiple bodies in combat. Only on level forty-nine will I reveal my full power."

"Very well," Wu Yuan nodded. "Today, I shall test your strength."

"You look confident," the black-robed guardian's expression remained impassive. "I remember you well; your soul radiates great power. However, if your understanding of the Dao has not deepened, you might not even pass level forty-one, even with your strong soul."

"Remember, the difficulty spikes every ten levels within the one-star tower, but you shouldn’t underestimate the increase in difficulty between each level."

Boom! Before the last word faded, the nine flying swords behind the black-robed guardian shot forward simultaneously.

The world around them shifted in hue, and fierce earthy-yellow currents engulfed the landscape for hundreds of li around!

This was also True Intent, yet the power unleashed was several times greater that of level forty.

"Assemble!" the black-robed guardian pointed from afar. Within the expansive Domain, intricate cryptic patterns formed on the surfaces of the nine swords. They whirled and merged to form a faintly illusory, yellow divine sword with a mighty aura.

"Kill!"

Boom! The yellow divine sword, infused with the True Intent of the Land, streaked across the sky like a bolt of lightning, unleashing a barrage of sword lights within the Domain that blanketed the sky above Wu Yuan.

The fourth step of the Dark Earth Sword Array – Light Of The Land!

This is the true Light Of The Land, executed with the pure profundity of the Land. Wu Yuan beheld the strike in awe.

This step was formidable, embodying the complete True Intent of the land.

“My comprehension of the Land’s profundity has only reached the ninth-level Domain stage, paling in comparison to you.” Wu Yuan's eyes gleamed with a faint smile. "Unfortunately for you, what I have grasped is not the pure profundity of the Land."

"I hope this strike of yours doesn’t disappoint me."

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! In the blink of an eye, eighty-one earthy-yellow flying swords materialized around Wu Yuan in a tightly packed swarm.

These swords did not attack, instead transforming into streams of light as they moved with practiced precision, intertwining and assembling into an array.

Celestial Body! Solid As A Rock! Wu Yuan gave a mental order.

Boom! A vast and radiant surge of earthy-yellow qi streams seamlessly integrated with the eighty-one flying swords to create a formidable sword array encircling Wu Yuan.

The aura it exuded was majestic and flawless, as if the very fabric of space itself was on the verge of crystallization.

At this moment, Wu Yuan seemed to transform into a huge rock, unshakable, immovable!

The ‘Star Ruins Sword Codex’, which consisted of five steps, was in fact an explanation of how to execute the Star Ruins Sword Array using the principles of the Celestial Body Dao. The first step was Solid As A Rock.

As the Star Ruins Sword Array formed, a thunderous rumble echoed through the air as the black-robed guardian's powerful volley of sword lights reached a distance of just ten li from Wu Yuan.

Wu Yuan's Domain harmonized with the sword array, enveloping the same expanse of ten li.

As though mired in a swamp, the sword lights that entered Wu Yuan's Domain struggled against an unseen resistance, their speed decreasing at a visible rate.

Yet the core of the sword array, composed of nine flying swords, maintained its sharpness, piercing through several li of space and aiming squarely for Wu Yuan.

Unfazed, Wu Yuan did not move, only offering a knowing smile. "Oh? You managed to breach half of my star Domain."

"Rotate!” The interlocking swords that composed the enormous Star Ruins Sword Array began to move, resembling a rotating millstone ten li in radius.

In an instant, an explosive force reverberated throughout the area, as the black-robed guardian's sword array found itself besieged from all directions.

In moments, it collapsed.

"What manner of sword array is this? He hasn’t even comprehended True Intent!" the black-robed guardian exclaimed, his expression contorting in confusion.

But before he could ponder further, a deafening rumble filled the air.

Boom! The Star Ruins Sword Array enveloped Wu Yuan’s body, descending upon the black-robed guardian like a celestial body hurtling towards the earth.

Unlike the adaptable and agile Dark Earth Sword Array, the Star Ruins Sword Array’s main purpose was defense. Hence, its offensive capabilities were simple and straightforward: a direct smash. Yet, its immense power made it unstoppable.

"Escape!" the robed guardian cried out as he retreated, hastily abandoning his nine flying swords to conjure a new array in a desperate bid to defend himself.

Rumble~ The clash was akin to a collision between a small car and a colossal truck. The Star Ruins Sword Array emitted a blinding brilliance as it overwhelmed the guardian's feeble defenses, crushing the new array in an instant.

“Not good.” Realizing the gravity of the situation, the black-robed guardian attempted to flee.

"Escape?" Wu Yuan's voice was cold and commanding. "Pull!"

With a resounding boom, a terrifying gravitational force enveloped everything in a hundred-li radius, restricting the black-robed guardian’s movements and drawing him inexorably closer to his opponent.

"No!" the guardian cried out as he felt the invisible force pulling him towards Wu Yuan, impeding his flight.

With the distance between them closing rapidly, the guardian had no time to summon another sword array.

Moreover, the battlefield was confined to a limited space. Even if he could fly hundreds of li into the distance, where could he hide?

The Seven Towers World inherently favored the side with the stronger offense.

Bang! The Star Ruins Sword Array smashed into the guardian like an unstoppable steamroller, obliterating him in a blinding flash of light.

Peace settled over the space once again.

"Congratulations, Li Xia, on passing level forty-one of the one-star tower," the voice of the tower spirit resounded.

The shimmering layers of sword light surrounding Wu Yuan faded away.

Too feeble. He couldn't even withstand my Star Ruins sword array, let alone dismantle it. Truly disappointing.

Even if the guardian couldn’t breach his defense, he should at least be able to endure it! What a shame. The guardian of level forty-one was no match for Wu Yuan in both offense and defense.

As for the Land Dao, I have only reached the ninth-level Domain stage of comprehension. Wu Yuan sighed. However, I have also begun contemplating the Gravity Dao and Earth Origin Dao.

These three Daos when combined formed the Celestial Body Dao. Though Wu Yuan's comprehension of the Celestial Body Dao was only at the Domain stage, it was an Intermediate Law, hence the power he could unleash rivaled that of the True Intent stage of a Lesser Law!

Haha, these guardians are weaker than I anticipated. Let us see how far I can go.

Wu Yuan declared, "Continue, level forty-two!"

...

In a space beyond Wu Yuan's perception within the Seven Towers World, Earth Immortal Xing Jiu and Earth Immortal Qing Yu observed the unfolding battle.

"Remarkable indeed! He has actually grasped the profundities of multiple Daos?" Earth Immortal Qing Yu marveled. "The last move he executed seemed to contain the profoundness of Gravity."

"Mm," Earth Immortal Xing Jiu gave a faint nod, offering no further comment.

The profoundness of Gravity?

"Qing Yu, how many levels do you believe Li Xia can conquer?" Earth Immortal Xing Jiu asked with a grin.

"Based on his current display of strength, reaching level forty-seven or forty-eight should be within his capabilities," Earth Immortal Qing Yu evaluated. "However, conquering level forty-nine should be challenging."

"Is that so?" Earth Immortal Xing Jiu chuckled. "Let us wait and see."

"Oh?" Earth Immortal Qing Yu's gaze sparkled. "Could he still be hiding some cards?"

The two Earth Immortals continued watching, their high status granting them the authority to witness the hereditary disciples' trials in the Seven Towers World.

...

On level forty-two of the one-star tower, two guardians who comprehended the True Intent of the Land still failed to breach Wu Yuan's Star Ruins Sword Array.

After several clashes, Wu Yuan unleashed the gravity pull technique, swiftly closing in on the two guardians and dispatching them!

...Level forty-three was also conquered with brute force!

Level forty-four...

Level forty-five...

...

Level forty-nine was defended by three guardians, their combat power stronger than any others he had faced before.

"Challenger, you are indeed strong," the three black-robed guardians spoke in unison, their voices as cold as ice.

"Defeat me, and you may proceed to challenge level fifty," they declared, their words laced with an air of challenge.

Though it appeared as if three separate guardians stood before him, they were in fact controlled by a single consciousness.

"Come then!" Wu Yuan called out, his fighting spirit fully ignited after conquering the previous eight levels. "Let me witness your true strength."

The three guardians employed their sword arrays and Domains, synchronizing as one as they aimed their attacks at Wu Yuan.

Boom! Boom! Boom! The power they unleashed was overwhelmingly strong.

"Good move!" Eighty-one flying swords materialized, forming a protective Star Ruin Sword Array around Wu Yuan.

Like a giant rock standing firm against the crashing waves, Wu Yuan stood his ground, unwavering in the face of the onslaught.

Crack!

But this time, the outcome was not the same as the previous eight levels. The three guardians attacked with unprecedented ferocity, the three sword arrays attacking from three different angles.

In an instant, Wu Yuan's Star Ruins Sword Array showed signs of collapse.

"Challenger, you will lose," the black-robed guardians taunted, a glint of frenzied madness in their eyes as they pushed the limits of their power. The three sword arrays surged.

"Haha, good. I thought I would have to reach level fifty to test my full strength. But now, I see you are worthy of my respect.” Wu Yuan met their challenge head-on, his eyes blazing with battle fervor.

A massive swarm of flying swords materialized around Wu Yuan, blotting out the sky with their sheer numbers.

"Thousand Swords Array, assemble!" Wu Yuan's gaze was fiery, pouring all his might into the array.

Even though his soul had grown several times stronger after eight years, he still had to strain himself to deploy a Thousand Swords Array.

Rumble~ In an instant, precisely 729 swords converged into a massive and densely packed array.

The collective might of nine combined Hundred Swords Arrays surpassed the strength of a single Hundred Swords Array by far more than ninefold.

Hiss~ As the Thousand Swords Array took shape, the streams of earthy-yellow qi seemed to freeze, causing the once rapid movements of the three divine swords to slow significantly.

Subsequently, an overwhelming pressure crushed the trio of divine swords from all sides, causing a spider web of cracks to form along their surfaces.

Rumble~ The three sword arrays crumbled.

The countenances of the three guardians shifted in unison.

"Hold! Explode!" Battle intent blazed in Wu Yuan's eyes as he stood amidst the sea of swords, resembling a deity of war.

With a single thought, the sword array that previously encompassed a radius of ten li detonated, unleashing an onslaught of razor-sharp force in all directions.

A deluge of sword lights erupted!

The most powerful attack of the Star Ruins Sword Array - Star Explosion!

Nearly a thousand swords enveloped the sky and earth, relentless and swift. Wherever the swords flew, Wu Yuan's Domain reached, swiftly sweeping across the entire battleground.

"No!" The three guardians bellowed in desperation, their struggles proving futile as the attack bore down upon them. Their hastily formed defensive sword arrays were obliterated in an instant, their bodies pierced through without mercy.

They vanished.

"Congratulations, Li Xia, you have completed level forty-nine of the one-star tower," the tower's spirit intoned with a hint of a smile.

"Continue to level fifty." Wu Yuan declared.

He vanished from his position.

...

Within the special observation area.

"Is a peerless prodigy about to emerge from our Dragon Star Immortal Sect?" Earth Immortal Qing Yu murmured, his eyes wide with astonishment.

Earth Immortal Xing Jiu's gaze burned with intensity as well.