Yuan's Ascension-Chapter 915: Two Paths (1)

Bai Shui, with her exquisite beauty and prodigious aptitude for the Law of Space, appeared at first glance to be an otherworldly immortal maiden of unparalleled grace. Yet, she hailed from the lineage of the Abyssal Devil race.

Her background remained shrouded in mystery, with various Saintdom intelligence networks unable to ascertain which Abyssal Overlord or supreme being stood behind her. Nevertheless, this did not hinder her from showcasing her immense power.

During the Divine Domain stage, she had shone with dazzling brilliance, sweeping aside all challengers. Apart from Zhu Shan and Inconstance, none could make her falter.

"Bai Shui's strength is terrifyingly formidable, with the potential to reach the top five!"

"Ming Jian is no weakling either. Judging by the prowess he displayed when defeating Lu Xing in the previous round, he's at least top ten material, not far behind Bai Shui. In terms of pure offensive capability, only Zhu Shan and Wu Yuan surpass him."

"Both of them should rightfully secure spots in the top ten."

"Besides Wu Yuan, who else could contend with them?" The geniuses in the viewing stands debated fervently, feeling perplexed and even finding this matchup somewhat unfair.

Now, Zhu Shan, Jiu Yan, Lie Jin, You Feng, and Li Guang had already secured their places in the top ten. Five slots in the top ten had been determined.

In the minds of the onlookers, Wu Yuan, Bai Shui, and Ming Jian should each have had an excellent chance of claiming a position in the top ten.

As for the other geniuses? Those like Yan Xiao, Yi Ke, and Qin Yuan who had broken into the top twenty were undoubtedly powerful, yet clearly a step behind in terms of strength and potential.

"Ming Jian and Bai Shui."

"Those two are facing off." Qin Yuan, Yan Xiao, and the other seven Supreme Geniuses couldn't help but smile. With one less formidable opponent, their chances of breaking into the top ten had significantly increased.

First, they pitted my body refiner self against Inconstance, causing a contender for the top ten to be eliminated in the top forty. Wu Yuan's body refiner self stood on the plaza, his gaze calm and deep as a well. Now, they've matched my qi refiner self against Bai Shui.

Wu Yuan couldn't discern whether this was a test from the Megaverse Crossroads or a deliberate obstacle placed in his path in the grand scheme of things.

Logically, given his qi refiner self's years of cultivation, the potential displayed during the Primordial Steps Trial, and his strength, breaking into the top ten should not have been difficult. The same could be said for Bai Shui.

It doesn't matter. At least they didn't force my two selves to fight each other. Wu Yuan suddenly smiled, a formidable resolve glinting in the depths of his eyes.

Bai Shui? The remaining Supreme Geniuses would struggle to push my qi refiner self to its limits. Let's see if you can do so.

Whether it was a test or an attempt to use his qi refiner self to block Bai Shui from making it into the top ten, it made no difference to Wu Yuan. He would defeat anyone who stood in his path.

...

On the plaza.

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“Zhu Shan, Jiu Yan, You Feng, Lie Jin, who do you think will win this battle?” Li Guang suddenly asked.

The five Supreme Geniuses who had successfully claimed their spots in the top ten were relatively at ease. Having advanced to the third trial, they were guaranteed to receive a Xiantian artifact and retained hope of claiming a Saintcrest.

These geniuses all furrowed their brows slightly. Who would emerge victorious?

"Both excel at control. In a sense, this is a replay of the battle between Ming Jian and Lu Xing," Lie Jin said dispassionately. "Bai Shui is stronger than Lu Xing and has a slightly higher chance of winning."

"They're both adept at control and both are High Immortals. The battle will likely end when one side's mana is completely depleted," You Feng remarked coolly.

The others remained silent, and Li Guang offered no rebuttal.

Their insights were keen, rivaling those of many Sovereigns, allowing them to discern the nuances. Based on the strength both sides had displayed so far, the odds in the battle between Ming Jian and Bai Shui seemed to be about 40-60. Bai Shui held a slight advantage.

...

On the viewing platform.

Ming Jian. Zhuo Haiyue gazed into the distance, her expression rather complex. The two had formed a close bond on the Spacetime Island, mutually supporting each other.

Later, she gave the Thunderforce Bead to Ming Jian. Although it was at Overlord Xin Ya's suggestion, Zhuo Haiyue felt somewhat guilty, for such an action would bring a great karmic burden upon Ming Jian.

Having been eliminated in the top forty herself, she fervently hoped Ming Jian could break into the top ten or even claim a Saintcrest, laying a solid foundation for his future path to the Overlord level or even eternity.

My disciple, you're just one step away from the top ten. High Immortal Dong Yang also watched silently.

Undoubtedly, in their eyes, this was the most formidable opponent Ming Jian had faced thus far.

...

Outside, the numerous observing geniuses engaged in heated debates over the two combatants.

However, Bai Shui and Wu Yuan's qi refiner self, already transported into the grotto-heaven, remained utterly calm. They stared intently at each other, their powerful wills clashing.

This was the most crucial battle! Victory meant breaking into the top ten, obtaining a Xiantian artifact, and perhaps even claiming a Saintcrest. Defeat would be the most regrettable outcome.

Both wore white robes, but one exuded an otherworldly charm that involuntarily stirred feelings of admiration in others' hearts.

The other seemed rather ordinary at first glance, his aura contained. But upon closer inspection, one could sense the sharp edge concealed beneath that seemingly unremarkable visage.

Such powerful sword intent, such a sharp will. Bai Shui's brow furrowed slightly. This Ming Jian... why does his presence feel similar to Wu Yuan?

Before crossing swords, Bai Shui hadn't noticed. But now, upon careful observation, she felt Ming Jian bore some resemblance to Wu Yuan. Both radiated an endless sharpness, as if poised to cleave through all illusions.

It makes sense. They're both incredibly young, and Ming Jian is a sword immortal. It's natural for him to possess such a sharp edge. Bai Shui shook her head slightly, then ceased her musings.

"Ming Jian, come. The victor enters the top ten," Bai Shui's voice remained melodious.

"Indeed, the winner advances to the top ten," Wu Yuan replied calmly.

At this juncture, dwelling on why the Heavenly Domain Emissary had pitted them against each other was pointless. Winning this battle was all that mattered.

Both sides made their move simultaneously.

Hum~ Hum~ Two invisible waves erupted from their upper dantian lobes almost instantaneously, directly invading each other's upper dantian lobe.

Hmm? Wu Yuan's expression changed slightly. He felt as if terrifying devils were echoing in his mind, roaring and howling.

Even with the aid of the Golden River, a soul defense artifact, Wu Yuan had to devote considerable effort to resist.

Similarly, Bai Shui's expression changed dramatically. She felt relentless waves of soul fluctuations impacting her soul.

Both Supreme Geniuses understood that directly annihilating each other's souls was impossible, as neither comprehended the Great Dao of Destiny.

Therefore, both deployed soul-interfering secret arts at the moment of engagement, attempting to impair their opponent's performance.

"It's useless, Bai Shui. Surrender," Wu Yuan said coldly.

Whoosh! A nearly identical white-robed figure appeared at his side. It was his mana body.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! A massive silver sword disk materialized beneath Wu Yuan's mana body. From the disk, beams of silver light shot forth, one after another, until twenty-seven dazzling rays illuminated the space.

Aided by the Chaos Origin Spring, Wu Yuan's qi refiner self had also made tremendous progress. His mana body, once capable of controlling eighteen mid-grade Dao Instrument flying swords, could now barely manage twenty-seven Dao Instrument flying swords.

He hadn't unleashed this technique even when fighting Lu Xing earlier, but now he held nothing back. After all, further reservation was meaningless. Winning this battle meant securing a place in the top ten.

According to the Heavenly Domain Emissary, this was likely to be the final battle for Wu Yuan's qi refiner self.

Converge! Wu Yuan's mana body commanded.

Rumble~ Heaven and earth trembled. With three Nine Swords Arrays as the core, supported by the Spacetime Dao Field, an immense sword domain formed across tens of thousands of li. Sword qi billowed, its power vast and overwhelming.

Wu Yuan's qi refiner self and mana body stood like emperors amidst the streams of sword qi, their presence majestic and awe-inspiring.

Hmm? This sword domain. Can a mana body be this powerful? Bai Shui's eyes flashed like lightning as she stared at Wu Yuan. Her body suddenly pulsed with energy, summoning cauldron after cauldron and massive black chains.

Nine cauldrons, connected by nine chains. Channeling the complete Law of Space, they instantly assembled in the void to form a profound and boundless domain—True Domain Continuum!

Cauldrons to anchor the void! Chains to link them together. Bai Shui stood protected at the core of the domain.

"Ming Jian's sword domain is incredibly powerful, with an endlessly sharp edge. It's probably most suited for offense."

"Bai Shui is naturally gifted in domains. Legend has it that the Law of True Domain was the first she comprehended."

"One side is the sharpest sword!"

"The other is the hardest shield." The many observing geniuses discussed among themselves as they watched from afar. This was a battle of needle tip against wheat awn. [1]

Boom! Boom! The two Supreme Geniuses, both masters of control, deployed their soul attacks with a single thought, then immediately formed their domains and collided.

Heaven shattered and earth split.

Wu Yuan's sword domain sent waves of sword qi sweeping in all directions, crashing like a torrent against Bai Shui's cauldron domain. Yet it was as if they had struck an iron plate, with strands of sword qi dissipating upon impact.

"It can't break through."

"Ming Jian's sword domain seems to be at a disadvantage."

"Bai Shu is truly unrivaled in control. Back in the Divine Domain World, her mana body relied on the defenses of her almost invincible domain to withstand nearly all dangers," the numerous observing peerless geniuses mused silently.

Bai Shui was the strongest in domains and also in control.

If Wu Yuan's sword domain was a balance of offense and defense, then Bai Shui's cauldron domain was pure defense, with relatively weak offensive capabilities.

...

As expected, in a battle of mana bodies, I'm still slightly outmatched. This Bai Shui likely also has an Apotheosis root. Wu Yuan's mana body thought with icy coldness.

Those who had reached the Apotheosis level were incredibly rare. In the Ling Jiang Universe, among countless geniuses of this era, Wu Yuan had never encountered another monstrous prodigy who had undergone Apotheosis. Even the strongest geniuses like Yu Xiang, Mu Long, and Xuan Rong hadn't reached Apotheosis.

But in the Heavenly Domain stage, there were indeed several geniuses who had undergone Apotheosis.

Like Zhu Shan, suspected to possess dual Apotheosis soul and root.

Like Inconstance, with an Apotheosis Yuan Soul.

Like Li Guang, with an Apotheosis root.

And now Bai Shui before him, whose Yuan Soul and immortal root both seemed to have both undergone Apotheosis. However, Wu Yuan found it difficult to confirm at the moment.

In terms of Dao comprehension alone, Wu Yuan's qi refiner self was still a notch below the group of top-tier geniuses like Bai Shui and Li Guang.

Primordial Technique! Wu Yuan's mana body immediately unleashed it. A layer of hazy, formless light covered his Yuan Soul, and permeated his mana, infused into every flying sword in his sword domain. Instantly, the power of his sword domain surged dramatically.

Primordial Technique. Bai Shui, in the distant void, likewise deployed the Primordial Technique.

Boom! The two domains collided violently, causing the very space around them to tremble subtly.

1. 针尖对麦芒 is a Chinese idiom. Wheat awn refers to the bristle-like appendage on the ear of wheat. This idiom describes a situation where two equally sharp or formidable forces confront each other. It creates a vivid image of two extremely pointed objects meeting head-on: the sharp tip of a needle against the pointed awn of a wheat stalk. ☜