Yuan's Ascension
Chapter 1126: A True Hopeless Situation (1)

Chapter 1126: A True Hopeless Situation (1)

In this mysterious realm where space stood remarkably solid, Wu Yuan wouldn't have been surprised by any encounter.

Yet the figure before him, holding a feather fan and adorned with silk headwear, involuntarily called to mind a hazy silhouette buried deep in his memories: an ancient figure who had lived out five thousand years of legend. The resemblance was striking, not just in attire, but even in facial features.

"Senior," Wu Yuan bowed respectfully, unable to fathom the newcomer's true nature - whether a spirit or some super powerhouse.

"My name is Bai Ze, though you may call me White Emperor if you wish." The white-robed man waved his feather fan, smiling in a manner that exuded grace and refinement.

Bai Ze? White Emperor? Wu Yuan's pupils constricted as his mind raced through legends he'd uncovered in the intelligence archives. [1]

At the wellspring of all time, at the genesis of all things, in that impossibly distant Primordial Era, mighty figures vied for supremacy as Dao Masters shook the cosmic sea... Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu had tamed the ancient Teng Snake, which stayed constantly at her side.

The Bai Ze was both divine beast and auspicious creature, akin to the Teng Snake race. Over the eons, many divine beasts carried the Bai Ze bloodline. However, among the Bai Ze race, only one held the right to be called White Emperor - the Bai Ze Progenitor. The Bai Ze Progenitor had always stood at Goddess Nüwa's side. [2]

"Senior, are you truly the one who stood beside Goddess Nüwa?" Wu Yuan couldn't help but ask breathlessly.

Ah, Goddess Nüwa – the first being in the endless cosmic sea to reach the Dao Zenithel stage through her own power, and the creator of the human race.

Her might and legendary feats subtly surpassed those of even the Heavenly Imperator and Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu.

Alas, Goddess Nüwa had ventured into the depths of the cosmic sea long ago, leaving no trace. Like the Origin Saint, she had gradually faded into legend...

"Goddess Nüwa? Indeed. As a human, you carry the bloodline she left behind," the white-robed man smiled. "Since its fate that we’ve met, I suppose there's no harm in telling you – this Ancient Dream Mountain was left behind by Goddess Nüwa herself, a commemorative creation of sorts."

Ancient Dream Mountain was left by Goddess Nüwa? A flicker of shock crossed Wu Yuan's face.

"Oh? You didn't know?" White Emperor paused. "I suppose after so very long, much of what was common knowledge has become hidden lore. It's only natural that youngsters like yourself would be unaware."

Wu Yuan listened intently.

Time wielded an astonishing power, sweeping away countless people and events of lesser import into its inexorable current.

"Senior White Emperor, where exactly are we? Is this the core of Ancient Dream Mountain?" Wu Yuan couldn't help but ask.

His top priority was to understand his current location.

"This place is known as the Dream River of Universes," White Emperor replied with a faint smile. "Goddess Nüwa created it before her departure. You could say it's the wellspring of Ancient Dream Mountain's power.

"Consider it an opportunity Goddess Nüwa left for later generations like yourself, as well as a memento of her passage."

Wu Yuan's face was a mask of confusion.

Dream River of Universes? The intelligence on Ancient Dream Mountain had never mentioned such a thing, let alone any connection to Goddess Nüwa. Yet White Emperor before him spoke with unshakeable certainty.

Still, the name gave Wu Yuan pause. The term 'River of Universes' was not used lightly. River of Universes referred to the wellsprings that birthed myriad universes and Abysses - rivers of universes, rivers of spacetime.

Dream River of Universes? A River of Universes forged in dreams? Wu Yuan pondered silently.

"Young one, Ancient Dream Mountain harbors countless dangers. The inner region contains myriad passages, all leading to the innermost Dream River of Universes," White Emperor explained, standing at Wu Yuan's side. "For naturally-born eternal lifeforms, the danger is tenfold. But for humans, it's relatively safer."

Relatively safer? Wu Yuan was inwardly alarmed. It seemed Goddess Nüwa truly favored the human race.

"Not long ago, a Saint who was a naturally-born eternal lifeform perished on one of those paths," White Emperor said with a smile. "Even their true self was affected and died."

"A Saint? Even their true self died?" Wu Yuan held his breath.

Instantly, he considered a possibility - could it have been a Que Luo powerhouse? There was no way to know, yet...

Subconsciously, an unseen power seeped into Wu Yuan's mind, influencing his thoughts. It prevented him from considering using the intelligence networks of the Blood Dream Alliance or Eldritch Court to investigate further.

...

Those mysterious stone fragments I obtained... they were actually the legendary Nüwa Stones? The Nüwa Stones helped me survive? Wu Yuan listened to White Emperor's explanation, breathless with wonder.

He had come across mentions of Nüwa Stones in certain intelligence archives. They were deeply mysterious and Wu Yuan remained unclear on their exact usage.

"The Nüwa Stones are treasures left behind by Goddess Nüwa herself." A hint of wistfulness flickered in White Emperor's eyes as he gazed at the five stone fragments Wu Yuan had produced. "They were created to ward off a great calamity... In the legends of beings across many Rivers of Universes, it's said that Goddess Nüwa used them to mend the heavens.

"Nüwa Mending the Sky... That great calamity truly saw Goddess Nüwa turn the tide against catastrophe.

"Afterwards, the excess Nüwa Stones were scattered by Goddess Nüwa throughout the cosmic sea. Within this Ancient Dream Mountain, there are many white stones. Occasionally, as the Dream River of Universes operates, Nüwa Stones flow outward.

"What you've obtained are mere fragments. That you acquired them speaks to your good fortune, and indicates you have a fated connection to Ancient Dream Mountain." White Emperor continued, "You encountered wave after wave of Mist Dream attacks on the Path of Dreams. It wasn't that those Mist Dreams couldn't utterly destroy you - rather, at each critical juncture, these white stones influenced the Mist Dreams, protecting you."

Wu Yuan pondered this, lowering his gaze to the stone fragments in his hand. Could these white stones truly be so miraculous? Protecting him in secret, without the slightest awareness?

"Senior White Emperor, what must I do?" Wu Yuan asked.

"Young one, the black mountain you entered is rather special. It holds many dangers, but also some benefits - it leads directly to this place," White Emperor said, looking at Wu Yuan. "The Path of Dreams you walked through was but the first level of danger.

"The Path of Dreams poses different levels of threat to sempiternal lifeforms and eternal lifeforms. The Mist Dreams faced by eternal lifeforms are truly perilous.

"Some powerhouses rely purely on the strength of their spirit and will to endure. You created an ultimate technique in dreamscape illusion art to resist, earning the right to arrive here." White Emperor smiled. "If you had been utterly unable to withstand the Mist Dreams' attacks, even with the aid of the white stones preventing your immediate demise, you would have remained trapped on the Path of Dreams forever."

Wu Yuan's eyes widened in realization.

He finally understood - he was trapped for seven thousand years not because he failed to reach the end of the mysterious passage, but because he hadn't overcome the danger. Only by fully resisting the Mist Dreams' infiltration could one leave.

"You passed through the Path of Dreams while possessing fragments of the Nüwa Stone," said White Emperor. "Thus, you qualify to proceed further. However, what lies ahead will be extremely dangerous.

"Tribulation and opportunity always go hand in hand," White Emperor smiled. "Should you succeed, I would be most pleased. The benefits, I imagine, would far exceed your expectations."

Wu Yuan held his breath. Extreme danger? Great benefits?

"Are you willing?" White Emperor looked at Wu Yuan. "If not, I shall send you away."

"I am willing," Wu Yuan replied after only brief consideration. Only his mana body and ether body were here. If true danger arose, he could self-destruct at a critical moment. Any losses would thus remain within acceptable limits.

Of course, Wu Yuan understood that Ancient Dream Mountain was ever-changing and unpredictable. It was hard to say if the figure before him was truly White Emperor. There might well be some danger that could affect his two true selves.

Fortune favors the bold. The path of Dao pioneering is fraught with hardship. Wu Yuan thought to himself. If this truly is a great opportunity left by Goddess Nüwa, I may never encounter something like this again if I pass it up.

Every Dao Zenithel possessed their own unique methods, like the Great Dao's Authority in the Creation Dao Realm – something no one else could provide, not even Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu. The journey to the Abyss and the Flower of Sin were similar opportunities that Dao Zenithels found difficult to grant. On the path of cultivation, when the time came to take risks, one had to seize the moment.

"Very well. Remember, this is your own choice," White Emperor said with a slight smile. "You're not allowed to regret it later."

As he spoke, a ripple of invisible energy washed outward. Two figures materialized not far away - one in black robes, one in white. Their appearances and soul auras were entirely distinct.

These two figures locked eyes with Wu Yuan, who stood at White Emperor's side.

Silence reigned.

But in Wu Yuan's heart, a tempest raged. For the two figures in black and white standing a short distance from his mana body were none other than his qi refiner self and body refiner self.

"This...? How is this possible?!" Wu Yuan stared at White Emperor in disbelief. "My two true selves?"

His body refiner self had just been in the Ling Jiang Universe. His qi refiner self had just been in the Taiyuan Saint Realm. Both were unfathomably distant. How could they possibly have been transported here without a sound?

The world outside. Wu Yuan attempted to reach out, only to discover in an instant that he had lost all connection to the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm and Eldritch Court Voidrealm. He was completely cut off from the outside.

Even Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu's token had lost all effect. He couldn't even cry for help. He was thoroughly trapped here.

Wu Yuan couldn't help but look toward the distant White Emperor, his eyes filled with shock and wariness. What manner of technique was this? It defied all comprehension.

"Hehe, don't look at me like that. You truly are extraordinary. Tsk tsk, two true selves," White Emperor chuckled. "Both Saintcrest Prodigies of the River of Universes, cultivating for a mere hundred thousand years... I've stumbled upon quite the treasure.

"However, no matter how peerless a prodigy you may be, if you can't withstand the coming dangers, you'll be trapped here forever.

"Or you may choose to end your own life," White Emperor gazed at Wu Yuan. "Don't get angry with me. I asked you earlier, and you chose to take this risk of your own accord."

Wu Yuan fell silent. Indeed, he had agreed. Now he had no grounds for rebuttal.

Taking a deep breath, Wu Yuan calmed himself. He knew worrying and complaining were useless now, so he respectfully asked, "Senior White Emperor, what must I do to leave?"

"Haha, now that's the right attitude," White Emperor grinned. "Follow me."

Whoosh! White Emperor strode directly off the island, flying towards the distant sea. Wu Yuan immediately followed close behind.

They had barely gone a few dozen li when the surrounding space shifted, and Wu Yuan found himself with White Emperor in a rather vast realm. Upon arrival, Wu Yuan could sense that this place was similar to the normal spacetime environment of the cosmic sea. The spatial pressure had suddenly decreased.

"Look there," said White Emperor, pointing to the distance. Wu Yuan's gaze immediately followed.

At the edge of this vast world, stood an incomparably wide passage, hundreds of millions of li across. The passage glowed brilliantly, winding and stretching for untold billions of li, without an end in sight.

"Pass through this Path of Light, reach its end, and you'll obtain the treasure left by Goddess Nüwa. You'll also be able to leave this place," White Emperor said with a smile.

Wu Yuan listened, then asked, "Can both of my true selves participate?"

"You may. Whatever methods you employ, be it your own strength or external aid, as long as you can traverse the Path of Light, you can leave," White Emperor said with a smile. "There are no restrictions."

Wu Yuan nodded slightly.

His gaze fell upon that Path of Light.

White Emperor had instantly discerned his identity, and even managed to bring both his true selves here without anyone noticing. He likely understood Wu Yuan's capabilities very well.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Suddenly, several figures flew out from the winding depths of the Path of Light. They moved at extreme speeds, flying all the way to the entrance of the massive passage before stopping.

There were three figures in total. One was an imposing silhouette clad entirely in black armor, completely encased within. Towering over a million li tall, his aura was terrifying, causing even space itself to subtly distort.

This? Wu Yuan held his breath. What a horrifying aura.

As formidable as Wu Yuan was, with his body refiner self being a Matter Overlord, even if he unleashed his full vital aura, it wouldn't match this being.

The second figure was a woman in purple. She wore nearly transparent gossamer robes, her lips curved in a slight smile. Her entire being exuded extreme allure, yet also radiated an endless holy aura - quite bizarre.

Where she stood, the distorted space around her normalized.

This woman... Wu Yuan frowned slightly, then turned his gaze to the final figure.

It was an elderly man in white. He wore a smile as he leaned on a walking stick, appearing very kindly, like a benevolent grandfather from next door.

The aura he emitted was the weakest. Compared to the black-armored man, he seemed as insignificant as an ant before a dragon.

And yet, inexplicably, this white-robed elderly man gave Wu Yuan the most threatening feeling.

1.

In Chinese mythology, 白帝 is one of the Five Emperors (五帝 Wǔ Dì) associated with the five directions and five elements. He is associated with the west and the element of metal. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-YKmq8PDco ☜

2.

https://img0.baidu.com/it/u=768269037,3349381045&fm=253&fmt=auto&app=138&f=JPEG?w=533&h=500 ☜