Yuan's Ascension

"Tempest! Annihilation!" High Immortal Nan Yin's gaze turned frigid. Within her sword domain, countless flying swords danced and weaved like fierce gales, colliding with the incoming spear lights.

The spear lights were sharp. But her swords were sharper still.

Boom! Boom! Boom! The clash of three peerless geniuses sent shockwaves rippling through the surrounding space, causing the very fabric of space to tremble and warp.

Some of the common battle arrays, unable to evade in time, were instantly scattered by the residual forces.

Bang! Despite giving his all, the High Deity in obsidian armor saw his spear lights shattered one after another, the illusory reflections of countless worlds dissipating like mirages. He was clearly outmatched.

Fortunately, the red-robed female High Immortal spared no effort, unleashing a barrage of powerful arcane arts to restrict High Immortal Nan Yin, giving her black-armored ally a chance to catch his breath.

"Hold the line. We can't defeat her, so we'll just have to stall her." The High Deity in black armor altered his spear technique, abandoning brute force for a more fluid, defensive approach. He sought not victory, but merely to avoid defeat.

In the following moments, High Immortal Nan Yin unleashed assault after assault, managing to decimate numerous battle arrays in the chaos, yet she could not overcome the two prodigies from the Immortal Court.

Nevertheless, with the arrays following behind High Immortal Nan Yin's lead, the central battle lane remained firmly in their favor.

…

Within the Immortal Court's Space Fortress, Sovereign Voltari’s incarnation surveyed the entire battlefield.

The assembled Astral Monarchs kept a vigilant watch over the unfolding conflict as well.

"The Cang Feng Eldritch World has indeed prepared thoroughly. Their armies move with practiced coordination—they clearly haven't been idle these past hundred million years." Sovereign Voltari remarked, his tone unperturbed.

A clash of this magnitude wouldn't sway the balance of power in the macrocosm. But such fierce combat would greatly stimulate countless Archimmortals and Archdeities, helping them break through their own bottlenecks.

Tempering—that was the true purpose of this battle.

"That sword immortal from the Eldritch Court is formidable. The profoundness of her swordsmanship has undoubtedly reached the late-stage Astral Monarch level."

"The two peerless geniuses from the Saintdom far surpass Jiang Huan and Jiang Ming, yet even working in tandem, they can't overcome her alone?"

"I've never seen her before."

"There's no mention of her in our intelligence reports." The Astral Monarchs of the Voltari Temple exchanged mental messages, having long since taken notice of this powerful combatant.

They possessed extensive intelligence on the Eldritch Court's prodigies, but it was largely limited to those from the Ling Jiang Saintdom. Information on other branches of the Eldritch Court, let alone its greater universe, was scarce. Thus, these Astral Monarchs were unfamiliar with High Immortal Nan Yin.

"On the right battle lane, those two from the Eldritch Court should be Liu Hong and Wu Jian. Both are peerless geniuses from the Ling Jiang Saintdom of the Eldritch Court. But Wu Yuan hasn't appeared yet—his strength should be comparable to that of High Eldritch Liu Hong." These Astral Monarchs from the Voltari Temple recognized several other Eldritch Court prodigies.

Could that be... Nan Yin?

Clad in violet armor, he exuded an extraordinary aura.

He had been observing the entire battlefield intently.

While the Astral Monarchs of the Voltari Temple were unfamiliar with High Immortal Nan Yin, Mu Long, as the foremost genius of the Ling Jiang Saintdom of the Immortal Court—one almost certainly destined to ascend to Sovereign in the future—held a far loftier position than mere Astral Monarchs. ṘáＮοВЕŠ

Moreover, with the Megaverse Crossroads soon to open, he possessed at least some intelligence on the peerless geniuses from various factions across the megaverse.

He had never met High Immortal Nan Yin in person, but he did have intelligence on her.

Synthesizing details of her appearance, swordsmanship, and the profundities of her techniques, High Deity Mu Long was fairly certain he had identified High Immortal Nan Yin.

Wu Yuan still hasn't shown himself. Could he be afraid of battle? Though he shouldn't have reached the late-stage Astral Monarch level yet.

Since the Eldritch Court dispatched High Immortal Nan Yin, they likely wouldn't send another genius of her caliber. High Deity Mu Long reasoned.

Any High Immortal or High Deity who possessed Dao comprehension at the late-stage Astral Monarch level would make them an absolute core member, highly prized by any Saintdom.

To ensure such peerless geniuses had the greatest chance of success in the Megaverse Crossroads, it was uncommon to assign multiple talents of this tier to compete for providence in a single macrocosm. Even if successful, the cost would outweigh the benefits. It would only result in each genius receiving a diluted share of providence.

Just as the Immortal Court had sent only Mu Long as their late-stage Astral Monarch representative, in Mu Long's view, the Eldritch Court would likely have sent only High Immortal Nan Yin as well.

Nan Yin is renowned for her swordsmanship and soul secret arts. She's worthy of my personal intervention.

Defeating her would mean crushing the strongest point of the Eldritch Court's army, enough to turn the tide in the central battle lane. High Deity Mu Long decided to take action.

Of the three battle lanes, the flanks were still locked in a stalemate, though the Immortal Court held a slight advantage in both.

Only in the central lane had the Immortal Court's forces clearly fallen to a disadvantage.

Whoosh! High Deity Mu Long's form blurred into motion, instantly becoming a streak of light as he soared over the series of massive fixed arrays, hurtling towards the central battle lane.

…

Three battle lanes.

On the right flank where High Eldritch Wu Jian is fighting, we're at a slight disadvantage, but the stalemate is likely to persist.

On the left flank where Senior Brother Jiang Huan and the others are, they're struggling to hold on. Senior Brother Jiang Huan isn't contributing much—it's all down to High Eldritch Liu Hong alone. I fear they won't last much longer.

These two battle lanes won't see a quick resolution, but the Immortal Court is more likely to prevail in the end. Wu Yuan pondered.

Only in the central lane does High Immortal Nan Yin hold an absolute advantage. Wu Yuan mused inwardly. Given enough time, High Immortal Nan Yin should be able to break through but it would be a slow process.

Moreover, while the six prodigies the Immortal Court has revealed are all formidable, none are truly terrifying. Wu Yuan reasoned. This doesn't add up.

The Greenridge Macrocosm now showed signs of abundant providence.

It was inconceivable that the Immortal Court wouldn't send their top elite geniuses. Even if not their strongest genius, they should have at least dispatched someone on par with High Immortal Nan Yin.

There's only one possibility. The enemy must have a super powerhouse lying in wait, just like me, choosing to observe and assess the situation before making a move. Wu Yuan's gaze swept across the three battle lanes.

If the Immortal Court truly has concealed a peerless genius, which lane would they enter?

Almost instantly, Wu Yuan reached his conclusion—the central battle lane.

First, the central lane was the only one where the Immortal Court's forces were at a disadvantage.

Second, the central lane offered the quickest route to reinforcing the other two fronts and was closest to both factions' Space Fortresses.

Having thought it through, Wu Yuan likewise transformed into a streak of light, charging towards the central battle lane, opting to aid High Immortal Nan Yin.

High Immortal Nan Yin's strength was immense—she could not be allowed to fall.

…

"Wu Yuan has made his move."

"Hmm? He didn't choose the flanks, but headed for the center instead?" Within the Eldritch Court's Space Fortress, an Astral Monarch immediately noticed Wu Yuan's trajectory.

"We clearly hold the advantage in the central lane."

"Wu Yuan's strength is estimated to be on par with High Eldritch Wu Jian at best. His presence there would be merely icing on the cake for High Immortal Nan Yin."

"Could it be that he's trying to steal the credit?" The Astral Monarchs of the Eldritch Court couldn't comprehend Wu Yuan's decision.

In their view, Wu Yuan should have chosen either the left or right flank of the battlefield, stabilizing one of these two major fronts, as that would have been the most prudent course of action.

Wu Yuan? He's actually coming here? High Immortal Nan Yin also sensed Wu Yuan's approach.@@novelbin@@

The peerless geniuses participating in the battle were aware of each other's movements in order to facilitate coordination.

"Wu Yuan! Go support the left flank. There's no need for you to be here. Your presence won't make a difference, and the left flank needs you more." High Immortal Nan Yin immediately transmitted her thoughts.

"I'm here to help you!" Wu Yuan replied simply.

Hmph! A flicker of displeasure arose in High Immortal Nan Yin's heart.

From her perspective, Wu Yuan was clearly worried that she might single-handedly lead the army, destroying the enemy's Space Fortress, and so he had come to steal her credit.

Doesn't this fool understand the importance of the bigger picture? Is Sovereign Kua Chi just going to do nothing? High Immortal Nan Yin furrowed her brow.

On any other day, she would have lost her temper already. But remembering her Senior Uncle's instructions, and understanding that this was the territory of the Cang Feng Eldritch World, she suppressed the fury in her heart.

Steal my credit? Well then, let me see if you can outdo me. High Immortal Nan Yin's gaze turned cold, and with a mere thought, her attacks grew increasingly fierce, forcing the two geniuses of the Immortal Court—the black-armored High Deity and the red-robed High Immortal—into a steady retreat.

Boom! Just then, an incomparably terrifying aura suddenly erupted from the Immortal Court's army. This aura was so powerful that it far surpassed all the powerhouses on the central battlefield. It even exceeded High Immortal Nan Yin's.

Instantly, the shocked gazes of numerous Eldritch Court powerhouses were all drawn to the source of that aura.

Clad in purple armor, he towered ten thousand zhangs tall, wielding nine purple battle sabers, his body wreathed in endless lightning. His imposing presence shook the heavens.

"Nan Yin? Die!" The purple-armored High Deity exploded into action, bolts of lightning lashing out in all directions. He himself seemed to transform into a streak of lightning cutting across the sky, lunging directly at High Immortal Nan Yin.

Such speed, such overwhelming might, terrified all the Eldritch Court powerhouses. It was too horrifying.

This aura? Lightning... It's him! High Immortal Nan Yin was utterly shocked, instantly realizing who the newcomer was.

The number one genius of the Ling Jiang Saintdom of the Immortal Court, also widely acknowledged as the monstrous prodigy second only to Yu Xiang in the entire Ling Jiang Universe—Mu Long!

His Dao comprehension had already reached the pinnacle of the Astral Monarch level, just one step away from the Sovereign level.

Mu Long, with his status, has actually come to compete for the providence of the Greenridge Macrocosm? High Immortal Nan Yin dared not ponder further, immediately beginning to fight for her life.

She understood that if she didn't give it her all now, she might not have another chance.