NOVGO.NET Chapter 1288: Price (2)
Chapter 1288: Price (2)
It seems Little Junior Brother has no intention of acknowledging me. True Saint Meng Guan’s massive form stood among the Blood Dream Alliance powerhouses, feeling somewhat resigned.
He could hardly fault Wu Yuan. Before this moment, they had never exchanged words, let alone formed any bond of brotherhood. It was only natural that Wu Yuan wouldn’t take the trouble to seek him out.
Senior Tian Xu is a great judge of character, as always. Meng Guan muttered to himself. He said my Little Junior Brother clearly distinguishes between gratitude and grudges. That assessment was indeed accurate. I should inform Senior Tian Xu.
Though he referred to Wu Yuan as his little junior brother, he dared not call Daoist Tian Xu by the title of Master.
…
In the emptiness of the void, Wu Yuan sensed the countless powerful consciousnesses examining him from afar.
“It seems they’re all quite wary of me,” he observed.
True Saint Dong Yi laughed, “Of course they fear you! In terms of raw strength, you rival True Saint Luan Hai, and your deterrent power may even exceed his. You dare to withstand attacks from entire groups of True Saints, something even Luan Hai would hesitate to attempt.”
Wu Yuan couldn’t suppress a smile. Indeed! While other powerhouses might judge his physical attacks inferior to True Saint Luan Hai’s, in every other aspect, he possessed the advantage.
“Besides,” Dong Yi continued with a sigh that seemed to fill the void, “you also have True Saint Ming Jian at your back. The two of you are simply unstoppable when you work together. The mere thought of it can make anyone break into a cold sweat.”
“Hm? Is someone envious?” Wu Yuan teased, his eyes crinkling with amusement.
“Envy? Not in the slightest.” True Saint Dong Yi shot him a mock glare before his expression softened. “Wu Yuan, won’t you invite True Saint Ming Jian to reveal himself?”
“When the moment calls for his appearance, he will naturally show himself,” Wu Yuan replied, his tone revealing nothing.
Dong Yi nodded, pressing no further. He was not too well acquainted with True Saint Ming Jian after all.
“Wu Yuan,” he said, his voice deepening with sincerity, “when the time comes to compete for the Chaos Nucleus, I will exert all my strength to help you.”
“There’s no need.” Wu Yuan shook his head. “I’ve already taken the fourth step.”
“I always honor my promises,” Dong Yi insisted, a fierce grin splitting his face. “Whatever Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu may have told you, I, Dong Yi, stand by my word.”
“Very well,” Wu Yuan conceded with a nod.
He understood that this unwavering commitment formed the foundation of Dong Yi’s Dao Heart. Many eternal powerhouses, even some sempiternal beings, often displayed a stubborn inflexibility that appeared foolish to others.
Yet it was precisely this unyielding nature that forged their Dao Hearts into something unbreakable, allowing their power to climb step by step toward the pinnacle.
“Dong Yi, you arrived earlier than me,” Wu Yuan said, his gaze shifting to the massive five-colored spacetime vortex that spanned nearly nine light-years in the distance. “Has entry into this vortex remained impossible all this while?”
“Indeed.” Dong Yi nodded. “We’ve sent numerous mana bodies and puppets to probe it, but all were obliterated. A True Saint from Nine Peaks attempted to send their true self in. The moment they touched the light, they died.”
He continued, “Clearly, the Chaos Nucleus has not yet reached the moment of emergence. You’re among the later arrivals. Nearly a thousand True Saints have gathered by now. Those who haven’t appeared after such a long wait will likely struggle to reach us at all.”
Wu Yuan nodded slightly, absorbing this information. A thousand True Saints? They represented various major factions, with the Eldritch Court fielding one of the smaller groups.
Yet what the Eldritch Court lacked in numbers, they made up for in quality. Each True Saint they sent possessed extraordinary power and would play a major role in the battle.
“However,” Dong Yi’s eyes narrowed, “according to our observations, this emergence of the Chaos Nucleus may be special. Throughout history, during previous emergences, we never witnessed such unusual disturbances.
“Previously, the spacetime vortex would extend one light-year at most, but this one spans a full nine. We suspect there may be multiple Chaos Nuclei emerging; perhaps two, or even more.”
“Two?” Wu Yuan’s heart stirred.
Suddenly, a flash of shock passed through the depths of his eyes. He masked it instantly, maintaining an outwardly calm demeanor.
…
The Blood Dream Voidrealm, which facilitated communication between Blood Dream Alliance powerhouses, was a place Wu Yuan’s qi refiner self rarely visited.
Whoosh! Wu Yuan arrived at a mysterious location within the voidrealm. This modestly sized world stretched only a few hundred thousand li across.
In the distance, a solitary figure in azure robes stood atop a mountain peak, back turned toward him.
“Senior Tian Xu?” Wu Yuan ventured, the familiar, mysterious aura unmistakable. “Is that you?”
“Indeed.” The azure-robed figure turned, his smile gentle as he regarded Wu Yuan. “It’s been a long time, young Wu Yuan.”
“It has indeed been long,” Wu Yuan agreed with a nod.
For Wu Yuan, a billion years constituted a truly long period. He failed to grasp the deeper meaning behind Tian Xu’s words.
The azure-robed figure merely smiled, offering no explanation.
“I have returned from samsara and regained True Saint strength,” he said with a smile. “Before long, I should break through to Dao Zenithel once more. You may achieve your breakthrough even faster than I.”
“Congratulations, Senior,” Wu Yuan replied earnestly, genuinely impressed by such rapid progress.
A thread of confusion lingered in his mind. Throughout these billions of years, he had not heard of anyone stepping into eternity. Yet since Tian Xu offered no explanation, Wu Yuan refrained from asking.
“Initially, I intended to delay our meeting, but with the opening of the Tenth Chaos Void, circumstances forced my hand,” Tian Xu said, his smile never wavering.
“Please continue, Senior,” Wu Yuan prompted thoughtfully. Forced his hand? Logically, even multiple Chaos Nuclei shouldn’t compel someone of Senior Tian Xu’s stature to action so urgently.
Who was Tian Xu? Throughout the cosmic sea, he stood as the wealthiest Dao Zenithel. Though the Heavenly Imperator and Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu possessed comparable riches, they were responsible for countless Dao Zenithels and True Saints under their command.
From what Wu Yuan knew, despite being a founder of the Blood Dream Alliance, Daoist Tian Xu had invested minimal effort into the faction. This explained his relatively lower status within the alliance compared to the Blood Emperor and Dream Emperor.
“Multiple Chaos Nuclei will emerge from this Tenth Chaos Void,” Daoist Tian Xu stated plainly. “Additionally, there will be a treasure of extraordinary significance.”
“A significant treasure?” Wu Yuan’s pupils contracted slightly.
What manner of treasure could earn such distinction from Daoist Tian Xu himself?
“You’ll know what it is soon enough,” Daoist Tian Xu chuckled. “Whether you can claim it depends entirely on fate. I have only one request: should you acquire any Chaos Nuclei, I hope you can give one to me.”
“A Chaos Nucleus? For you?” Confusion flickered across Wu Yuan’s features.
“Don’t misunderstand, I’m not the one using it,” Daoist Tian Xu explained. “It’s just that your Senior Brother Meng Guan remains trapped at a bottleneck, unable to advance. I wish to assist him.
“Of course, I’ll ensure you’re compensated appropriately. Five Chaos Treasures shall be yours. Furthermore, should Meng Guan break through, he will obey your commands for ten samsara cycles of heaven and earth.”
Wu Yuan stood stunned.
The price Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu offered had already been substantial, but Senior Tian Xu’s proposition was truly astonishing.
“Senior, you jest,” Wu Yuan shook his head repeatedly. “I am indebted to you. It’s rare that I have an opportunity to repay even a fraction of that debt.
“There’s no need for True Saint Meng Guan to obey my commands,” Wu Yuan continued. “However, I’ve already promised Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu that if I obtain any Chaos Nuclei, I will provide one to the Eldritch Court.”
“Very well. If you acquire a second, it shall be mine,” Daoist Tian Xu agreed easily. “Since you decline command over Meng Guan, I’ll offer six Chaos Treasures instead, or artifacts of equivalent value.”
His smile broadened. “Don’t refuse me. There’s an abundance of Chaos Treasures gathering dust in my collection. Perhaps you’ll find a better use for them than I.”
“As you wish,” Wu Yuan acquiesced with a nod.
Inwardly, he sighed at the stark contrast. Mountain Daoist would begrudge him even a single Chaos Treasure, while Senior Tian Xu displayed remarkable generosity.
Suddenly, a thought occurred to him. “Senior, we’re currently conversing in the Blood Dream Voidrealm. The Blood Emperor and Dream Emperor won’t be aware of this exchange, will they?”
“They will not,” Daoist Tian Xu assured him, his smile confident. “I created this Blood Dream Voidrealm, after all. Only those I permit will be privy to our conversation.”
Wu Yuan nodded in understanding.
“Go now,” Daoist Tian Xu waved dismissively. “It’s been ages since I wandered these grounds. I wish to remain alone for a while.”
“Here?” Wu Yuan glanced around curiously. The place appeared to be an ordinary worldlet, far inferior to the Middle Land.
“This place is called Chang Feng,” Tian Xu explained with a mysterious smile. “You wouldn’t understand.”
“This junior shall take his leave,” Wu Yuan responded with a respectful bow, sensing that this modest worldlet must harbor profound emotional attachments for Daoist Tian Xu.
…
Beneath the dim expanse of the Tenth Chaos Void, only the massive spacetime vortex illuminated the surrounding darkness.
It seems everyone covets a Chaos Nucleus. Wu Yuan mused inwardly. This item truly must be an extremely effective aid for True Saints in their advance to Dao Zenithels.
His thoughts raced. Multiple Chaos Nuclei? And a significant treasure? What could it be? Senior Tian Xu seemed absolutely certain, as if he could foresee everything in advance.
Wu Yuan had reasoned it through carefully. While the Chaos Nuclei were undeniably precious, for someone like himself who had already broken through, their utility was small. The trade represented both a repayment of kindness and an opportunity to acquire valuable Chaos Treasures.
After advancing to Dao Zenithel. He calculated silently. If my ether body wields nine Chaos Treasure sabers, its power would likely be second only to wielding a Xuanhuang Dao Treasure.
The time had come to prepare for his advancement to Dao Zenithel.
Wu Yuan assumed lotus position, entering deep meditation as he waited. In the blink of an eye, another hundred years passed.
Rumble! Suddenly, terrifying spacetime fluctuations swept outward in all directions, instantly alerting Wu Yuan and the nearly thousand True Saints scattered throughout the void.
“That is?”
“This!” All the True Saints stared in shock at the spacetime vortex.
Accompanying the violent tremors, dazzling, endless light erupted from the spacetime vortex. This radiance transcended the constraints of spacetime, instantly enveloping a radius of dozens of light-years in its glow.
The entire expanse of space transformed into a five-colored realm. The thousand-plus True Saints who had been waiting around the vortex found themselves enveloped within this otherworldly place.
“A five-colored realm?”
“Spacetime has been isolated.” Many True Saints felt a chill of premonition crawl up their spines.
Wu Yuan, True Saint Dong Yi, and other powerful beings remained on high alert, extending their senses in all directions.
The five-colored light encompassed heaven and earth completely, making them feel as though they had been transported to another spacetime plane, with no possibility of escape.
Meanwhile, the original spacetime vortex rapidly contracted to just one light-year in diameter.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! More brilliant lights burst forth from the five-colored heaven and earth, converging toward a single point before coalescing into an azure figure.
He appeared to be a youth of perhaps ten years, but his aura was profoundly ethereal. He didn’t appear to be a living being.
More remarkably, each True Saint was somehow able to observe the azure-robed youth up close, despite being separated by tens of light-years.
He existed everywhere at once.
“Everyone,” the azure-robed youth greeted them with a faint smile. As his gaze swept across the assembly, each and every True Saint felt as though he was looking directly into their souls.
In that moment, all the True Saints present knew with certainty—something extraordinary was about to unfold.
“You need not know my identity,” the azure-robed youth stated calmly. “Listen carefully to my words, then make your decision. The Tenth Chaos Void is the final void of the Chaos Void sequence. Thus, it is most exceptional, and the treasures that emerge are of unparalleled value.
“Within this five-colored realm you now occupy, a total of three Chaos Nuclei will emerge.”
Three Chaos Nuclei? In an instant, the eyes of almost every True Saint blazed with naked desire. It was beyond imagination! Given the unusual circumstances surrounding this Tenth Chaos Void, many Perennial powerhouses had speculated that perhaps two Chaos Nuclei might manifest.
But three? The revelation sent shockwaves through the hearts of all present.
“The Chaos Nuclei are merely supplementary rewards,” the azure-robed youth dismissed casually. “The true treasure lies deep within the spacetime vortex—an Immutable Dao Artifact.
“In your terminology, it would be called a Xuanhuang Dao Treasure.”