Chapter 183: Dao Debate (1)

Chapter 183: Dao Debate (1)

“100,000 years? Who are you?" Wu Yuan's mind reeled, his eyes darting around the majestic hall before him, his mind on high alert.

This bronze temple was honestly a complete enigma to him, and the abilities of the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm defied all common sense! Whether it was the sheer size of this realm, the redsoil assassins, tree demons, or other supernatural entities, it all served to showcase the mind-boggling capabilities of its owner.

Apart from true immortals and devils, Wu Yuan couldn’t think of anyone else capable of such feats.

And now, they claimed they’d been waiting for 100,000 years? It sounded utterly preposterous!

No one’s there? Wu Yuan's gaze scoured the towering, completely enclosed hall, but failed to find the source of the voice.

Suddenly, a multitude of vibrant hues materialized in the air, swiftly coalescing at the center of the hall to form a phantom throne, towering several meters high and nearly ten meters wide.

The ethereal throne gradually unveiled a phantom form seated upon it, emanating a chilling aura that caused Wu Yuan to freeze.

This is... a holographic projection? Wu Yuan's pupils contracted.

A virtual giant loomed before him, towering over ten meters in height, adorned in finely crafted black metal armor that exuded an air of grandeur, leaving only his head and palms exposed. With each resounding step of his metallic boot in the air, Wu Yuan felt as if his heart was being crushed beneath his feet, rattling him to the core.

What is he? Even a Heavenly Ranker would be no match for him. An ancient qi refiner? Wu Yuan found it difficult to breathe, and the compulsion to kneel and surrender nearly overwhelmed him. This wasn’t because Wu Yuan possessed a feeble will, but rather due to the insurmountable disparity between them – that between a lower-order existence encountering a higher-order being. It was unfathomably terrifying!

It was important to note that this black armored giant was not present in the flesh, but rather a mere projection! Logically speaking, it should not possess such a formidable aura.

I must remain vigilant and exercise utmost caution! Wu Yuan reigned in his soul sense, exerting every ounce of his willpower to suppress the surging fear and inclination to kneel. He looked down, refusing to meet the piercing gaze of the giant.

"Junior Wu Yuan greets Senior!" Suppressing the urge to act on his instincts, he just managed to bow before the towering figure clad in black armor. An inkling arose within him, linking the voice he had just heard to this black armored giant.

"Haha!" The giant in black armor erupted into booming laughter that shook the ground.

"Indeed, you are the one for whom I have waited for 100,000 years. The fact that you possess such indomitable will at the mere age of seventeen and can resist the weight of my aura is truly impressive." His voice echoed throughout the temple.

Seventeen? Wu Yuan knew that his strong will was a culmination of his previous lifetime’s experiences along with his current one. However, he couldn't exactly say it.

"Wu Yuan, raise your head," the black armored giant commanded.

Wu Yuan complied obediently, and in an instant, he noticed that the immense aura previously emanating from the giant had vanished, leaving no trace.

Observing the black-armor giant once more, it appeared to be a mere projection, imposing only due to its sheer size, but lacking genuine strength.

Wu Yuan was just about to speak when the black armored giant interjected, "You need not say anything; simply listen to my words." Though ethereal in nature, his voice resonated through the hall.

Wu Yuan had no choice but to remain silent and listen intently.

This realization sent shivers down Wu Yuan's spine. Just the residual aftershocks of the war were enough to devastate the vast Summerpeak World. The sheer scale and power of those beings who actually fought in the great war itself was unimaginable. Was this the might of the immortals and devils?

"It was a close call," the armored giant revealed with a sigh. "Despite the annihilation of the Hou Feng Tribe, I have always adhered to their primary directive – to raise new eldritches."

"After my descent here, I endured the world's spiritual qi upheaval twice, slowly restored the Fourth Eldritch Realm, then went into hibernation."

"And so, I have patiently waited. Tens of thousands of years ago, humanity repopulated the Middle Land. A few thousand years ago, martial arts finally resurfaced."

"These few thousand years, I made countless attempts to search for potential candidates to join the ranks of eldritch cultivators, such as directly recruiting individuals within my perception range to enter the Fourth Eldritch Realm, or inciting fierce competition among different factions by distributing artifacts, all in the hopes that talented individuals would enter the realm."

"Alas, not one caught my attention. The Summerpeak World is but a worldlet, and no qi refiners were born for a long time. The bloodlines of Middle Land's creatures have deteriorated, far inferior to those of the macrocosms. To truly nurture a genuine eldritch proves exceedingly challenging." The armored giant seemed lost in his memories.

Wu Yuan stood stupefied. Heavens! Even without any training, the humans of the Middle Land could effortlessly exert a force of several thousand catties once they reached adulthood. And this was considered a deteriorated bloodline? How formidable must the creatures from the macrocosms be?

"If I had enough time, I would wait patiently until the Summerpeak World regained its former glory, when countless qi refiners and martial artists thrived. Then, I would have a wider selection pool to choose from for nurturing new eldritches."

"Sadly, time is not on my side. But fortunately, Wu Yuan, you arrived!" The armored giant's gaze landed on Wu Yuan, a glimmer of hope shining in his eyes. "Perhaps the heavens have taken pity on me, gifting the Middle Land with a prodigious talent like yourself!"

“Your aptitude may not surpass that of some elite, ground-breaking prodigies in the Greenridge Macrocosm, but it is still above average." The armored giant said sincerely, "Even during the prime of the Summerpeak World, it would likely take several decades, if not a century, for a talent like you to emerge."

"I am running out of time. You are my best choice."

Wu Yuan’s heart thumped. His talent was only above average? He couldn't help but wonder about the countless cultivation prodigies that once lived during the prime of the Summerpeak World. As for the Greenridge Macrocosm, it surely surpassed the Summerpeak World by who knew how many times. It was only normal that there were prodigies with greater talent and strength than him.

"This is your talent evaluation," the black armored giant announced. As he pointed, a myriad of glowing particles converged.

Wu Yuan looked over.

Age: seventeen.

Soul level: Soul Perception

Soul talent: average first-class.

Qi refining talent initial assessment: lower first-class.

Body refining talent: exceptional.

Wu Yuan felt slightly confused, and he turned toward the black-armored giant. Though he could read the words individually, he couldn’t understand what they meant as a whole.

"Realm Master, what does Soul Perception of soul level mean?" Wu Yuan asked.