Yuan's Ascension

Chapter 706: Wanted, Caught Between Heaven And Earth (2)

A powerful purple-robed figure combed leisurely through the outskirts of the Myriad Mountains Ice Plain. His immortal consciousness was fully extended in the Voidspace, placing an enormous burden on his soul.

Aside from Jing Qu who was already here, I'm among the first to arrive at the Myriad Mountains Ice Plain since the bounty was announced six days ago. This is the advantage I have for exploring the Snowlight Mist Realm beforehand. The purple-robed figure mused to himself. I wonder if the Spacetime Sword Immortal is still here.

The Snowlight Mist Realm was vast beyond measure. The Myriad Mountains Ice Plain alone had a diameter of over ten trillion li. Even traveling at the speed of light, it would take several days to traverse.

If he's not here, it will be a troublesome search. The purple-robed figure thought to himself.

They weren't just searching on their own, but also mobilizing a large number of ordinary Archimmortals and High Immortals who were exploring the Snowlight Mist Realm to look for traces of the Spacetime Sword Immortal.

Hmm? Is that... an Earth Immortal? The purple-robed figure abruptly detected a figure nearly ten million li away, his eyes narrowing slightly. The attire and flight speed don't match, but he’s an Earth Immortal.

How many Earth Immortals would dare to venture alone into the Myriad Mountains Ice Plain?

Better to kill the wrong target than to let him escape.

Whoosh! The purple-robed figure exploded into motion, accelerating to near light speed as he charged toward his target.

...

Wu Yuan sensed a powerful immortal consciousness sweeping past, but he didn't pay it much attention, having had many similar encounters in the past.

Under normal circumstances, Archimmortal-level beings exploring the Snowlight Mist Realm wouldn't bother with a mere Earth Immortal.

However, the powerful Archimmortal ten million li away suddenly sprang into motion, heading unmistakably toward Wu Yuan at full speed.

Wu Yuan's pupils constricted slightly and he hesitated for a few seconds, but the Archimmortal showed no signs of slowing down. The distance between them had already shrunk by hundreds of millions of li.

Flee! Wu Yuan quickly altered his course, turning into a streak of light as he fled. However, he deliberately held back, careful not to reveal his full speed.

Yet, Wu Yuan discovered that the Archimmortal had changed directions too!

Is he targeting me? There's no one else between us. Wu Yuan finally confirmed that this Archimmortal was indeed after him.

There was no more time for hesitation.

Boom! Wu Yuan erupted with full power, immediately employing the Moonlight Shadow technique. He instantly soared to light speed, while the flow of time around him began to fluctuate.

The deeper one's comprehension of the Law of Time, the easier it was to manipulate time.

...

Hmm? Has he sensed me? This Earth Immortal is rather peculiar. The purple-robed Archimmortal noticed Wu Yuan change his direction, and his suspicion grew. But he still couldn’t confirm that this was the right target.

A moment later, Wu Yuan erupted with all his power, instantly accelerating to the speed of light. Yet, this wasn't his limit; he continued to accelerate to twice the speed of light, four times the speed of light... far surpassing the purple-robed Archimmortal.

Whoosh! The gap between them rapidly widened.

So fast? It's the flow of time, the flow of time is changing. The purple-robed Archimmortal was a fifth-stage Archimmortal, and his experience and insight were considerable. It's him! He must be the Spacetime Sword Immortal.

An Earth Immortal who can manipulate time, and just happens to be in the Myriad Mountains Ice Plain, there can't be such a coincidence.

He was certain that this was indeed the target he had been searching for.

"Spacetime Sword Immortal, don't run." The purple-robed Archimmortal no longer concealed his intentions and directly transmitted his voice: "You can't escape."

Boom! As he activated a secret art, his speed surged, breaking past the threshold of light speed and even surpassing it. He streaked through the void like a comet.

Yet, this was his limit. Light speed represented a sort of limit. While artifacts and weapons could exceed this threshold relatively easily, for a physical body to do so was an extremely difficult feat.

This was where the Law of Time revealed its heaven-defying power. It did not directly accelerate objects but instead manipulated the flow of time. By accelerating time's passage relative to constant speed, it created the illusion of increased velocity.

Boom! Boom! One fast, one slow—the gap between them widened by millions of li each second. In the blink of an eye, Wu Yuan vanished among the glaciers, his pursuer left far behind.

I can’t catch up. The purple-robed Archimmortal came to a halt, his expression grim. I’m not particularly adept at speed, and this Spacetime Sword Immortal’s burst speed is terrifying. Even an Astral Lord might struggle to catch him.

Even though he knew he could annihilate his opponent with a single strike in a direct confrontation, he simply couldn't catch up.

He sighed in frustration, his hands clenching briefly before releasing. All this power, and yet he couldn’t use it.

Still, reporting his location will earn me a reward of one hundred thousand divine crystals. Without delay, the Archimmortal transmitted the intelligence.

...

"What? The Spacetime Sword Immortal is still in the Myriad Mountains Ice Plain?"

"Excellent." The Archimmortals and Astral Lords under Astral Monarch Ya Hei’s command, already en route to the ice plain, reacted with excitement. Their pace quickened, eagerness burning in their eyes.

The orders had been issued days ago, and numerous Archimmortals and Astral Lords had converged on the region.

The strategy they had agreed upon was simple: first, establish roadblocks at every route that led out of the Snowlight Mist Realm, and second, eliminate any Earth Immortal encountered.

...

In a crevasse between ice sheets.

Wu Yuan exhaled a frosty breath, his gaze sharp. I’ve shaken him off. That Archimmortal was relentless, chasing me like a mad dog the moment he detected me. Is it worth getting so worked up over a mere Earth Immortal? He shook his head, incredulous.

Through his spatial perception, Wu Yuan could tell the pursuer was a fourth- or fifth-stage Archimmortal, someone who could obliterate him with a single strike in direct combat.

It's a pity that I can't enter a higher spatial dimension in the Myriad Mountains Ice Plain. Wu Yuan thought to himself. If I could enter the Fragmentary Spatial Layer... forget a fourth or fifth-stage Archimmortal, even an Astral Lord would find it difficult to capture me.

Whoosh! Wu Yuan didn't dare to be careless, swiftly moving along the ice sheets and making sure he had completely shaken off his pursuer.

Another day passed.

A flicker of surprise flashed in Wu Yuan’s eyes as a series of messages arrived. Haiyue, Dong Fan, Xiang Dao, Nangong Meng... all requesting urgent meetings at the same time?

In all his years on the Spacetime Island, this was the first time all of his friends messaged him simultaneously. This could only mean something of monumental importance had happened.

Without hesitation, Wu Yuan dispatched a strand of consciousness to the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm.

...

The Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm, Taiyuan Tower.

The grand hall, typically quiet, was now alive with activity. A small group had gathered here.

Wu Yuan arrived, his expression calm but curious. "Haiyue, Nangong, Dong Fan..." He greeted each one with a slight nod.

"Ming Jian, did you obtain the Black Devil Star?" Xiang Dao's abrupt question startled Wu Yuan, and his expression shifted involuntarily.

“Ming Jian,” Nangong Meng spoke, her tone grave, “judging by your reaction, it’s true. This news isn’t confined to us—it’s spreading across the Spacetime Island and beyond, circulating among many factions in the Dao Realm. Countless Archimmortals and Archdeities from various major factions likely already know about it."

Wu Yuan’s pupils narrowed. What was going on?

“Take a look.” Zhuo Haiyue raised her hand, and an enormous light screen materialized, displaying a crystal-clear projection.

The scene was unmistakable: Wu Yuan’s intense battle with High Immortal Zhuo Hao. The decisive moment where Zhuo Hao unleashed the Black Devil Star was captured in vivid detail.

The angle of the projection suggested it had been recorded by a nearby High Immortal or High Deity.

“This was seven days ago,” Dong Fan said, his voice urgent. “At first, it circulated among High Immortals and High Deities in the Spacetime Dao Realm. But your reputation has always been immense, Ming Jian. Furthermore, this recording of an Earth Immortal displaying Archimmortal-level prowess quickly attracted the attention of many powerful figures in the Dao Realm.

And then someone identified the Black Devil Star.”

Dong Fan’s voice lowered as he continued. “The Black Devil Star isn’t just any treasure. It’s a relic of Sovereign Black Devil. Anything tied to that legacy is priceless.

Opportunities like this surpass even the Spacetime Labyrinth. The Dao Realm’s nine major factions are in an uproar. Astral Monarchs are offering rewards of up to three billion divine crystals to anyone who delivers the Black Devil Star.

Moreover, it's almost certain that your mana body hasn't left the Snowlight Mist Realm. This means that anyone who kills your mana body can obtain the Black Devil Star.

This information has spread throughout the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm. It has even circulated across the entire Spacetime Island," Dong Fan continued. "The moment we learned of this, we immediately requested to meet you."

Wu Yuan’s expression darkened.

Three billion divine crystals?

The Black Devil Star was indeed in his mana body’s possession. He had begun to grasp its importance over the past few days, understanding that it was crucial for Astral Lords and Astral Monarchs who wished to venture into the Black Devil Blood Hollow.

But he hadn't anticipated this.

These Dao Realm Astral Monarchs were willing to offer a bounty of three billion divine crystals? They must have gone mad.

For a moment, Wu Yuan even felt a fleeting impulse to sell the Black Devil Star and pocket the three billion divine crystals...assuming he could actually make the exchange.

Of course, Wu Yuan understood that while such an enormous bounty would certainly sow enmity between them, it was a gamble the Dao Realm’s Astral Monarchs were willing to make. They were betting that he wouldn't be able to threaten them in the future. Even if he became a Sovereign, what of it? Unable to enter the Dao Realm, he would be powerless against them.

"Ming Jian. Now that the news has spread, the entire Snowlight Mist Realm has been stirred into a frenzy. Countless High Immortals and High Deities will be trying to locate your whereabouts. Even providing information about your movements will earn them divine crystal rewards," Nangong Meng said, shaking her head.

"And those Archimmortals and Archdeities will be desperately searching for you, intent on killing you to claim the Black Devil Star for the reward.

Moreover, many powerful figures from the nine major factions of the Dao Realm are rushing here, hoping to capture you.

You must flee and return to the Spacetime Island as quickly as possible," Nangong Meng urged gravely.

Wu Yuan nodded slightly.

Why were so many immortal cultivators from the Dao Realm venturing into the Snowlight Mist Realm? Wasn't it all for divine crystals and wealth?

He himself had become a walking treasure worth billions of divine crystals—the greatest opportunity of all.

If this were the Greenridge Macrocosm, would a few Astral Monarchs dare to publicly put a bounty on a member of the Bei You faction? Wu Yuan thought to himself.

Each member of the Spacetime Island might be a monstrous prodigy, but their external backing was useless here. The members of the nine major Dao Realm factions would not fear them.

The Spacetime Island would not intervene in such matters. In fact, in the eyes of Spacetime Island's highest echelons, this bounty was likely seen as a form of tempering for Wu Yuan.

“Very well. Thank you, everyone," Wu Yuan said with a smile, cupping his hands. "After this storm has passed, I’ll host a feast to show my gratitude. For now, I must take my leave.”

...

Time passed swiftly.

Wu Yuan quickly obtained more intelligence through the channels of the Taiyuan Divine Court faction.

Many imprint bearers were active in the Dao Realm, and numerous imprint bearers had connections with immortal cultivators and even Archimmortals and Archdeities. There was no shortage of information.

At least 121 Astral Monarchs have put out a bounty on me? Wu Yuan was speechless, muttering to himself. Is there really a need to go this far?

Each Astral Monarch commanded tens of thousands of Archimmortals.

With so many Astral Monarchs involved from all nine major factions of the Dao Realm, it meant that any powerful figure adventuring in the Snowlight Mist Realm could find someone to claim the bounty from. This was destined to create utter chaos!

In a crevasse within the ice sheets of the Myriad Mountains Ice Plain.

I never imagined that I'd be hunted by everyone one day. Wu Yuan shook his head slightly. This journey back to the Spacetime Island will be a desperate struggle to avoid being caught between heaven and earth.

Hmm? A cold glint flashed in Wu Yuan's eyes. Nie Zhen is requesting a meeting? He has a way to help me bring the Black Devil Star back?

Could Nie Zhen really be so kind-hearted?