Yuan’s Ascension

With just one strike, Zhuo Haiyue obliterated three High Immortals, establishing her dominance.

The remaining High Immortals and the few Archimmortals within the vast ice passages no longer dared to underestimate or provoke Zhuo Haiyue and Wu Yuan, the two Earth Immortals.

All attention now turned to the Archimmortal who had dived into the ice vortex.

Wu Yuan and Zhuo Haiyue were no exception, their gazes locked on the distant black-armored Archimmortal as he charged into the vast expanse of ice and water that formed the vortex, stretching for over a hundred million li.

His speed was incredible, nearly reaching the speed of light. In just over ten breaths, he had traversed more than ten million li, the streams of icy water offering no resistance.

"There's no danger," Zhuo Haiyue frowned.

"It can't be that simple," Wu Yuan communicated telepathically.

No sooner had he spoken than a thunderous boom echoed through the air.

The previously calm waters suddenly turned violent. Great quantities of ice essence coalesced, forming massive beings with overwhelmingly powerful auras. These weren't mere snow devils; in a sense, they could be called water devils.

These water devil entities, each with a liquid-like outer layer, exuded tremendous power. Roaring and bellowing, they charged at the black-armored Archimmortal, surrounding him from all directions.

"Kill!" the black-armored Archimmortal exploded into action. His fingers danced, unleashing Archimmortal mana in an instant. He cast arcane arts that manifested as enormous golden mountain-like pillars, each as vast as the heavens themselves, radiating terrifying auras as they crashed towards the water devils, each nearly a hundred li tall.

A ten-li-tall water devil typically possessed the strength of a Fourth Tribulation High Immortal. Those a hundred li tall usually wielded power equivalent to a first-stage Archimmortal.

With a thunderous crash, as if the sky had shattered and the earth had split, the towering golden pillars struck down, crushing five water devils and hurling them into the churning waters, sending ice and water splashing in all directions.

Whoosh! Seizing the opportunity, the black-armored Archimmortal swiftly evaded the five water devils and plunged deeper into the ice vortex.

"He's a second-stage Archimmortal," Zhuo Haiyue quickly assessed. "He can't tear these Sixth Tribulation High Immortal-level water devils apart in a short time."

Wu Yuan nodded slightly.

From the High Immortal/High Deity level onwards, one had to face Immortal Tribulations.

Under normal circumstances, overcoming six Immortal Tribulations was the pinnacle for High Immortals and High Deities.

Surviving the seventh Immortal Tribulation and fully comprehending a Lesser Law qualified one to merge their soul with the Dao Essence, forging an immortal body. This marked the first-stage Archimmortal phase, the weakest of Archimmortals. Through continuous accumulation of mana and transformation of the immortal body, one's power could smoothly reach the third-stage Archimmortal phase.

If one's Dao Heart was strong enough, Dao comprehension was deep enough, and one was sufficiently confident, one could choose to face the Eighth Immortal Tribulation. Failure meant death, but success would propel them to the fourth-stage Archimmortal phase.

To break through to the seventh-stage Archimmortal phase, one must survive the Ninth Immortal Tribulation. Only by weathering nine Immortal Tribulations could one become an eternally existing immortal.

Ordinary Archimmortals that had yet to overcome their Ninth Immortal Tribulation could live to a hundred million years at most.

Without facing the Ninth Immortal Tribulation, one's lifespan remains limited. Wu Yuan mused silently. Only seventh-stage Archimmortals and above have nearly infinite lifespans.

Unfortunately, once one fully comprehended a Dao, imprinting their Yuan Soul upon the Dao Essence, further Dao comprehension became a thousand or ten thousand times more difficult.

Many Archimmortals struggled to advance even a single step in tens of millions of years because of this.

Out of hundreds of ordinary Archimmortals, it was rare for even one seventh-stage Archimmortal, or Astral Lord, to emerge.

As for an Astral Lord breaking through to become an Astral Monarch? That required fully comprehending an Intermediate Law. The difficulty of such a breakthrough was even greater.

Thus, ordinary Archimmortals would desperately venture on expeditions, seeking great opportunities for the sake of longevity and greater strength.

For this reason, High Immortals and High Deities would strive to linger at their current phase for as long as possible, only breaking through when their lifespan neared its end.

…

Boom! The black-armored Archimmortal exerted all his might, repeatedly unleashing his power to shake off the water devils that kept spawning. The deeper he ventured, the more terrifying the strength of the emerging water devils became.

When he advanced to the thirty million li mark from the edge of the ice vortex, Archimmortal-level water devils finally began to appear. Though most were only at the first or second-stage Archimmortal level with crude battle skills, their sheer numbers made them a force to reckon with when they worked together to swarm him.

Whoosh! The black-armored Archimmortal ultimately halted at the 36 million li mark, surrounded by more than ten Archimmortal-level water devils.

Shocked and enraged, the black-armored Archimmortal attempted to retreat, but it was too late. He was brutally annihilated and torn apart by the horde of water devils.

This scene shook all spectators. Although this Archimmortal had only sent in a mana body, its destruction was still a grievous loss.

It was important to note that the stronger one's power, the more difficult it was to create a mana body, often requiring rare treasures as catalysts. The loss of a mana body represented a significant setback.

…

"Without at least fourth-stage Archimmortal strength, it's nearly impossible to break through. Those water devils are too powerful."

"Indeed, it's terrifying."

"How are we supposed to get through?" The numerous High Immortals and Archimmortals observing from afar exchanged thoughts and pondered.

Some High Immortals with ordinary strength even began to have second thoughts. If even an Archimmortal couldn't break through and perished in the depths of the ice vortex, what hope did they have?

Only an extremely rare, monstrous prodigy among High Immortals could hope to match an Archimmortal's strength.

"No wonder so many Archimmortals and High Immortals dare not attempt the challenge," Wu Yuan communicated telepathically. "It also explains why we haven't encountered any particularly powerful Archimmortals."

"Indeed, those with great power have likely already made their way in," Zhuo Haiyue replied. "Let's keep watching."

Time flowed on.

Gradually, more Archimmortals and even some High Immortals began to attempt the challenge.

Each and every one met with defeat. Some, in their reckless determination, even perished within the ice vortex.

As time passed, Wu Yuan and Zhuo Haiyue began to discern certain patterns. When Archimmortals attempted the challenge, the water devils spawned by the ice vortex tended to be stronger. When High Immortals made the attempt, the water devils they encountered were generally weaker.

"High Immortals have weaker vital auras, causing smaller disturbances. This ice vortex is clearly a test of the Spacetime Labyrinth," Wu Yuan deduced. "As we're both Earth Immortals, logically, the water devils that appear should be even weaker."

Zhuo Haiyue nodded in agreement.

However, neither of them dared to be entirely certain, for to this point, they remained the only two Earth Immortals in the vicinity of the entire ice vortex. There was no precedent to guide them.

…

After a series of consecutive failed attempts, the initial excitement that these immortal cultivators felt gradually cooled off. Some chose to leave, but many more remained, watching and waiting to see if any special opportunities might arise.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Out of the blue, two streaks of light shot skyward, merging into a single bolt of lightning that plunged directly into the vast ice vortex.

"It's those two Earth Immortals."

"Their strength may be formidable, but this is too reckless."

"Confidence is good, but excessive confidence becomes arrogance." This scene immediately drew the attention of numerous High Immortals and even Archimmortals.

Earth Immortals attempting the challenge? This was the first time it had happened.

Whoosh! Lightning flashed, cutting through stream after stream of water, erupting with a speed approaching that of light, causing hearts to tremble in awe.

"This is bad. The environment within the ice vortex is unique; the resistance is immense. I can't reach light speed," Zhuo Haiyue communicated telepathically.

"No need to rush," Wu Yuan replied.

While the two remained cautious, this display had already shocked the multitude of Archimmortals and High Immortals. An Earth Immortal approaching light speed within the ice vortex? What kind of monstrous prodigy was this?

Boom! Leveraging her terrifying speed, Zhuo Haiyue, carrying Wu Yuan, crossed the thirty million li mark in one go, outpacing one water devil after another. They were now just twenty million li from the center of the ice vortex.

As they had anticipated, perhaps due to their weaker vital auras, the water devils emerging from the icy waters were relatively ordinary in strength. Even in vast numbers, they still failed to impede Zhuo Haiyue's progress.

"Roar!"

"Roar! Roar!" At the thirty million li mark, as if crossing some invisible boundary, Sixth Tribulation High Immortal water devils finally began to appear. Dozens materialized, lunging towards them from all directions, seemingly blocking every possible escape route.

"It's over."

"Sixth Tribulation High Immortal water devils can move incredibly quickly within the ice vortex. These two Earth Immortals are doomed." This was the prevailing thought among the watching Archimmortals and High Immortals.

Hum~ Suddenly, an invisible wave of fluctuations enveloped the area. The surrounding space seemed to distort, undergoing some peculiar transformation.

Boom! Zhuo Haiyue, who had been surrounded, suddenly gained a huge boost in speed. Simultaneously, the water devils that had formed an encirclement inexplicably began moving at varying speeds, creating gaps in their formation.

Whoosh! Zhuo Haiyue, carrying Wu Yuan, shot through these gaps at an incredible speed, breaking free of the encirclement.

They had shaken off this large group of water devils.

"Roar!"

"Roar!" More water devils spawned, howling as they charged towards them, bellowing furiously.

In a one-on-one confrontation, Zhuo Haiyue feared no water devil, but she dreaded being surrounded.

Once again, that invisible wave of fluctuations manifested.

In the final ten million li, Wu Yuan employed the same time dilation technique twice more in dozens of seconds, joining forces with Zhuo Haiyue to enter the majestic temple.

Success!

…

This seemingly effortless feat was in fact uncannily mystifying, deeply shocking all the observing Archimmortals and High Immortals.

"Did my eyes deceive me?"

"It was Time."

"The Law of Time? That white-robed Earth Immortal can manipulate time? Where did such a monstrous prodigy come from?" A group of Archimmortals and High Immortals erupted in astonishment.

Even among those Archimmortals, each having lived for eons, none had ever witnessed such an unparalleled monstrous prodigy.

To perceive the profundities of Time at the Earth Immortal phase? Under normal circumstances, even an Astral Lord might not be able to perceive the profundities of Time.

"I’ve confirmed their identities."

"It's Ming Jian!"

"It's him, the other one with an overwhelmingly powerful comprehension of the Law of Lightning is Zhuo Haiyue. Both are Earth Immortals."

"It's those two, they're too freakish, especially Ming Jian."

"Comprehending Space and Time simultaneously? That’s insane." Within the passages, dozens of imprint bearers were also waiting patiently and observing from afar.

They were all High Immortals, and two were imprint bearers from the Taiyuan Divine Court lineage.

They had naturally witnessed this scene. At first, they dared not be too certain, after all, individuals with similar appearances were common, but with the various techniques displayed and the fact that they were Earth Immortals, they could finally confirm their identities.

Although Kou Lei and Zhuo Haiyue knew Wu Yuan comprehended the Law of Time before this, they naturally didn’t leak such information.

But now, imprint bearers from various factions had simultaneously witnessed it, and the news could no longer be concealed. Moreover, the Spacetime Labyrinth was already the focus of countless imprint bearers on the Spacetime Island.

"What?"

"The Dao Master Imprint bearer Ming Jian comprehends Time and Space simultaneously? And has even comprehended Time to an extremely high level? Is this fake news?"

"It's absolutely true, here's the visual evidence."

"He and Zhuo Haiyue have already joined forces to breach the Spacetime Labyrinth, and they're both only Earth Immortals."

"Monstrous prodigies." This news spread like a hurricane across Spacetime Island, causing countless imprint bearers to take notice.

Upon learning of the news, almost everyone felt their hearts tremble. Such talent was too exaggerated.

…

Wu Yuan and Zhuo Haiyue's true selves on the Spacetime Island were naturally aware that revealing their strength would stir up waves. However, they paid it no mind.

As one’s strength increased, exposure was inevitable in the struggle for opportunities and treasures. Should they always hide their power and hold back?

They didn't have much thought to spare for the rumors and gossip of the external world. At this moment, all of their attention was focused on the Spacetime Labyrinth.

This was a mysterious realm.

This place? Wu Yuan's mana body was extremely vigilant as he surveyed the surroundings, a vast world of ice and snow.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Frigid winds howled in the sky. Beneath his feet lay unfathomably thick layers of ice. Even with his formidable strength, Wu Yuan could feel waves of biting cold.

Hum! A hazy, vast aura spontaneously manifested, followed by the appearance of a tall, thin figure in black robes. He wore a faint smile as he looked down at Wu Yuan.

"I am the temple spirit of the Spacetime Labyrinth. Congratulations, the fact that you can see me means you are qualified to access the ultimate treasure of the Spacetime Labyrinth," the black-robed figure said with a smile.

"Ultimate treasure?" Wu Yuan was taken aback. "No tests?"

"Tests? Those are merely methods used on fools lacking talent, to gauge their providence, potential, and the like." The black-robed figure gazed at Wu Yuan. "But for you, tests are unnecessary.

With such talent, you have already been chosen by heaven. Not qualifying you would be a dereliction of my duty."