Yuan's Ascension

Chapter 480: A Breakthrough In The Bloodforge Spacetime (2)

Meanwhile, off to the side, Ao Qi was planning his next move. I must work hard. Wu Yuan and Gao Yun have a better chance of taking the Bloodforge King title than I do, especially Wu Yuan.

But in this world, nothing is absolute. I must not lose hope. Ao Qi was also cultivating with all his might, furiously comprehending the profundities of the Dao and hoping that countless profundities could coalesce to form a Dao Field.

To become a peerless genius, talent was only one aspect. More crucial was the effort one put forth and the refusal to squander that innate potential.

One might choose to rely on their talent, indulge in pleasure, and think, "It's okay to relax now; I can always work hard later," believing there was plenty of time. However, once time ran out, it was too late for regrets.

...

Time flowed by. Blood-red mist drifted through the space, surrounding this seemingly unchanging, metallic plaza.

In the blink of an eye, nearly three months passed.

The effects of a year of bloody battles then three months of cultivation under the Bloodforge Spacetime’s special environment, were equivalent to five or ten years of ordinary cultivation for most geniuses.

Naturally, some geniuses had breakthroughs, and quite a few had leaped from the sixth-level True Intent stage to the seventh-level True Intent stage.

However, Gao Yun was still the only one who broke through to the Dao Field stage. After all, fewer than ten peerless geniuses had reached the ninth-level True Intent stage (Lesser Law).

Finally, I've broken through. Wu Yuan opened his eyes, a hint of a smile tugging at his mouth.

With a thought, a layer of hazy earthy-yellow light enveloped his body. It seemed no different from the past. Yet, Wu Yuan could sense the disparity in power. There was a significant increase.

Eighth-level Domain stage of the Celestial Body Dao!

The final month of frenzied fighting in the Bloodforge Battle had a great impact on me. Wu Yuan quietly reflected. My soul has made another breakthrough.

Coupled with the Bloodforge Spacetime’s special environment, in just three to four months, his progress was equivalent to five years of arduous cultivation prior to the Bloodforge Battle. Reaching the eighth-level Domain stage of the Celestial Body Dao wasn’t surprising.

At this rate of cultivation, even if I leave the Bloodforge Spacetime, I'll reach the ninth-level Domain stage within a year or two.

There was no significant bottleneck from the seventh-level Domain stage to the ninth.

But getting to the True Intent stage will be a challenge. Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.

As an Intermediate Law, breaking through to the True Intent stage of the Celestial Body Dao was even more difficult than breaking through to the Dao Field stage of a Lesser Law.

This was because one had to integrate insights from three Lesser Laws to reach the True Intent stage of an Intermediate Law.

One step at a time. At least now, I have taken another step forward. Wu Yuan scanned the other geniuses, but his thoughts were on his qi refiner self.

It’s been almost two years. My qi refiner self has been cultivating tirelessly. Without realizing it, I’ve reached the second-level Domain stage of the Longevity Dao.

In terms of comprehension efficiency, he was progressing far slower in the Longevity Dao compared to the Celestial Body Dao. Keep in mind that the earlier stages of a Dao were the easiest to comprehend.

However, he had no choice. His body refiner self was much more talented than his qi refiner self. The body refiner self had evolved into a Celestial Divine Body. With his soul making another breakthrough, the gap between the talents of the two selves was even more pronounced.

I wonder if my qi refiner self can unlock the first floor of the black pagoda?

The thought had occasionally crossed Wu Yuan’s mind in the past days.

However, his qi refining self was only at the ninth-stage Golden Core phase, and temporarily lacking the conditions to attempt it.

I’ll wait until my body refiner self leaves, then think of a solution. Wu Yuan decided.

However, he wasn’t too confident that the attempt would work. After all, the Origin Spirit had stated that the black pagoda would only grant him one gift.

While his two selves acted independently, their consciousness was singular. Ultimately, they were still the same person.

Days flew by in a flash.

"Three months are up, Dao comprehension ends here." Suddenly, the same cold voice echoed across the plaza, and the meditating prodigies were simultaneously pulled to their feet by an invisible force.

Their jade platforms disappeared from underneath them.

"What?"

"Time has run out? What a pity, if only I had a little longer." Many of the prodigies sighed with regret.

For them, such a rate of comprehension was simply astonishing.

Soundlessly, a towering woman shrouded in white robes appeared in mid-air.

She stepped on empty space, her jade-like eyes looking down at the scene below. Her face was covered, but a glimpse of her strikingly beautiful visage made them tremble. Her aura instinctively stirred people's hearts.

What a fearsome woman, who is she? Wu Yuan was secretly taken aback.

He thought he had a strong will, yet facing the woman in front of him, he still felt an uncontrollable tremor run through his heart. He couldn't gauge the depths of the woman’s strength just by her appearance alone.

Despite Wu Yuan's mighty soul and Dao Heart, he was still affected, let alone the other peerless geniuses present.

"Number 893, Silvermist, a total of 1482 people," the woman in white suddenly spoke, her voice icy as it echoed through spacetime. "First, congratulations. The ultimate opportunity challenge will soon commence."

"According to the rules, we should first determine the Golden Core Bloodforge King among you."

"However, there's no need for that this time." The woman in white said indifferently, "Where is the king, Wu Yuan? Step forward."

"Where is the king, Wu Yuan?" Her words echoed throughout space.

Save for a few geniuses who seemed to have already gotten the news, the expressions of the other geniuses were all perplexed.

As for Ao Qi, his face was filled with disbelief.

"Junior is here." Wu Yuan stepped forward, neither humble nor arrogant.

"To be granted the title of king directly is quite impressive." The woman in white looked down at Wu Yuan, a hint of softness in her cold eyes.

"This time, out of 1163 Golden Core Bloodforge Kings, three were directly granted the title of king. This is a particularly large number. You are one of them."

Wu Yuan nodded. Inwardly he was shocked.

1163 Golden Core Bloodforge Kings? It must refer to all the Golden Core Bloodforge Kings from the thousand-plus first-tier divisions of the Bloodforge Devil Hall.

Wu Yuan now understood why it was said that the worth of an Amethyst Cradle Bloodforge Marquis was greater than that of a Golden Core Bloodforge King.

Not only were there more Golden Core Bloodforge Kings, but the participants were all geniuses of around one or two hundred years of age. Meanwhile, Amethyst Cradle cultivators generally cultivated for a longer time, producing more peerless geniuses, and competition was more intense.

However, being directly granted the Golden Core Bloodforge King title was proof of Wu Yuan's talent. In the entire macrocosm, he stood at the pinnacle of his era.

"You will enter the king's passage directly, strive hard." The woman in white said softly, “However, what you obtain depends on strength and luck. If your luck is lacking, your opportunity might be inferior to a Bloodforge Marquis."

Without waiting for Wu Yuan's response, the woman in white robes waved her hand. An invisible force enveloped Wu Yuan, and he disappeared right on the spot.

The geniuses were all left dumbstruck. They had been completely ignored.

"Wu Yuan ranked first in Blood Devil Token count in your Bloodforge Battlefield. In terms of overall talent, he is also first. Therefore, he was directly granted the title of king," The woman in white spoke with a cold voice, her gaze sweeping over the geniuses. "Are there any objections?"

Dead silence.

These geniuses weren't stupid, the mysterious woman in white was clearly a powerhouse of the Bloodforge Spacetime. Who would dare to provoke her?

Moreover, they were just shocked that Wu Yuan was directly awarded the title of king, but none questioned the legitimacy of this selection. Wu Yuan’s strength had thoroughly convinced them all.

"Next, you geniuses will compete for the 799 Golden Core Bloodforge Marquis positions. But rest assured, upon entering the second stage, there will be no risk of death," the woman in white robes said slowly.

"Competition is about strength as well as luck. If your luck is extraordinary, you may obtain an incredible opportunity.” The woman in the white robe seemed to recall something, "In the last Golden Core Bloodforge Battle, there was a previously insignificant genius who ended up obtaining a Legendary opportunity."

"Now, let the competition begin..."

...

As Ao Qi, Gao Yun, Dongfang Hongguang and the other geniuses fought for the title of Golden Core Bloodforge Marquis, Wu Yuan was standing bewildered in a void.

Apart from a blood-red jade platform before him, he was surrounded by nothingness.

"Have a seat." A voice, cold and somewhat haunting, rang out. "The lives and souls of those sacrificed in the Bloodforge cannot sustain the cultivation of too many peerless geniuses."

"However, it can provide enough sustenance for a few chosen geniuses to cultivate for several months."