Chapter 783

"The power shaking the entire Infinite Dimensional Multiverse is so overwhelming that even the supreme will of the Great Dao and the highest laws are retreating."

"Transcendence. It must be related to transcendence."

"No wonder I couldn't view the timeline of this period over a hundred thousand years ago. So that's why, so that's why..."

One by one, ancient Legendary Lords appeared, even those who roamed across past and future timelines swiftly returned to the present, all drawn by this mysterious force sweeping through the vast dimensional layers.

Swoosh—

Space and time twisted, and a twelve-armed figure emerged, lifting its head to gaze toward the source of the strange fluctuation.

That area was now in a state of absolute chaos, with an unknown power spreading outward.

"Fantian, you're back too."

Not far from the twelve-armed figure, another figure coalesced—this figure constantly shifted form, as though replicating everything within the Infinite Dimensional Multiverse.

"Wanxiang, what do you think this power is?"

Lord Fantian asked on his own accord.

If other Legendary Lords had been present, they would have been shocked to recognize that both Lord Fantian and Lord Wanxiang were incredibly ancient and powerful Legendary Lords.

Countless ages ago, they had already survived the final third hundred million tribulations, terrifying beings nearing the end of the path to transcendence.

"It’s related to transcendence. As for what power exactly, how would I know?"

Lord Wanxiang replied, a trace of longing in his eyes.

He had wandered through the ancient past and distant future, all in pursuit of this kind of power.

Buzz—at that moment, another figure formed.

"Haotian."

Lord Wanxiang looked toward the third figure, with a hint of wariness in his expression.

Lord Fantian and Lord Haotian were known as the “Twin Heavens,” their might revered among many Legendary Lords. Even across countless timelines of past and future, their names echoed.

As time passed—

More and more figures appeared. This was the closest point to the source of the strange fluctuation. Any Legendary Lord able to stand here—even if they hadn’t endured the final third hundred million tribulations—wouldn’t be far from it.

"The Sage has arrived."

Suddenly, a figure materialized, drawing the attention of the many Legendary Lords.

"The Sage?"

Lord Fantian, Lord Haotian, and the others all turned to look at the newly arrived figure.

The "Sage" was not the most powerful of the Legendary Lords, having only survived the final two hundred sixty million tribulations.

He couldn't compare to the likes of Lord Haotian or Lord Fantian.

But in terms of age, the Sage was unquestionably the oldest among all Legendary Lords.

It’s said he was born shortly after the Infinite Dimensional Multiverse came into existence.

The other Legendary Lords from the same era as the Sage had almost all perished somewhere on the path to transcendence.

The reason for the Sage’s longevity was simple—he never did anything he wasn’t absolutely sure of.

The same went for exploring the "Endless Tribulations"—he never attempted a trial he wasn’t confident in passing.

Having lived for unimaginably long, the Sage had amassed vast and arcane knowledge—hence the name.

Although Legendary Lords could observe timelines of past and future, many secrets—especially those involving transcendence—couldn’t be seen on a timeline and had to be experienced directly.

“Sage,” Lord Wanxiang spoke, “what do you think is the reason behind the emergence of this transcendent-level power?”

“The reason?” The Sage calmly stared at the source of the strange fluctuation, not answering directly. “I remember when I first became a Lord, something major happened in the Infinite Dimensional Multiverse.”

“When you first became a Lord?”

“Something major?”

The other Legendary Lords grew curious.

The time when the Sage first became a Lord? That must have been in unimaginably ancient times.

“At that time, I was still weak. The one who shook the entire dimensional realm was Lord Wuyou. He had reached the peak of Lordhood and was aiming for the fourteenth rank—that is, the perfect temporal lifeform transformation.”

“Transitioning from imperfection to perfection—a leap in the essence of life that shook the entire dimensional realm. Though Lord Wuyou ultimately failed, every Lord since then has known that a perfect temporal lifeform marks the end of our path—and it was from that point onward that the path of the perfect temporal lifeform became recognized as a path to transcendence.”

The Sage's tone carried nostalgia.

This path, unlike the “Infinite Origin” and the “Endless Tribulations,” was discovered directly by the Lords themselves.

“You mean… this power might give rise to a new path to transcendence?”

Lord Haotian, who had been silent all this time, finally spoke.

Over the endless years, though there were many proposed paths to transcendence, only three had become widely accepted among the Lords.

The Perfect Temporal Lifeform.

The Infinite Origin.

The Endless Tribulations.

“Correct.”

“This scale of disturbance across the dimensional realms… only happened once before—during that first transition from imperfection to perfection.”

The Sage nodded, then added, “But this is only my speculation. We can’t be certain.”

“Let’s wait and see.”

“Whether it becomes the fourth path to transcendence… we’ll know in time.”

Lord Fantian spoke.

The other Legendary Lords, hearing this, also suppressed their growing restlessness and waited patiently.

Very soon—

Under the gaze of all the Legendary Lords—

The source of the strange fluctuation suddenly ‘erupted,’ and countless auras plummeted into the Infinite Dimensional Multiverse.

As they fell, these auras transformed, forming a staircase of white jade steps—one after another.

The bottom of the white jade staircase was rooted in the Infinite Dimensional Multiverse, but the top? It stretched endlessly upward, as if leading to the supreme and eternal heights.

“White jade staircase?”

The Legendary Lords observed carefully.

“There are a total of 33,333 white jade staircases, scattered throughout the Infinite Dimensional Multiverse.”

Lord Wanxiang looked at the staircases and spoke.

“Let’s go take a look.”

Lord Haotian stepped forward and instantly appeared before the nearest white jade staircase.

From that angle, the staircase stretched endlessly upward—no beginning, no end.

“A transcendent-level power formed this staircase. It can’t be meaningless.”

The many Legendary Lords scrutinized it, but none dared to step onto the first step.

“You’re all afraid? Then I’ll go first.”

Lord Fantian cast a glance at the others, then boldly stepped onto the first step.

“Hmm?”

Standing on the first step, Lord Fantian’s expression shifted slightly. After a brief pause, he stepped onto the second step.

Within a few dozen breaths, Lord Fantian had already ascended over ten steps.

“He’s fine?”

“Fantian is okay?”

Seeing this, the other Legendary Lords also began trying to step onto the first step.

“This is...?”

One of the Lords' pupils contracted. “I can feel the direction my own chaotic origin Dao must evolve to transform toward the level of the supreme law Dao! As long as I follow that direction, I can evolve?”

“Yes, I feel it too.”

“So the chaotic origin Dao isn’t the end? We still have hope of reaching the supreme law Dao?”

The eyes of the Legendary Lords blazed with excitement.

The supreme law Dao? That was a being on par with the perfect temporal lifeform.

Why was the will of the supreme law called ‘half a perfect temporal lifeform’? Because its power was all-pervasive and all-powerful.

If one’s chaotic origin Dao could evolve into the supreme law Dao—what else could that be but transcendence?

“The path to transcendence! If I climb to the top of the white jade staircase, my chaotic origin Dao will transform into the supreme law Dao. I’ll transcend—this white jade staircase is a path to transcendence—the fourth path!”

Thoughts raced in the minds of the Legendary Lords, and they began stepping onto the white jade staircases.

However, most of the Lords didn’t choose the staircase that Fantian was on, but went toward others.

After all, there were 33,333 white jade staircases formed after the explosion—not just the one in front of them.

Especially Lords like Haotian and Wanxiang—Fantian had already taken the lead on this one, and they didn’t want to compete with him.

“Even if the white jade staircases lead to transcendence, the number who actually make it will be limited. Fantian has already taken this one... forget it, I’ll choose another.”

Lord Haotian shifted his thoughts and moved toward a different staircase.

“The path to transcendence...”

The Sage’s gaze was complex. He murmured, “I wonder how many more Legendary Lords will die this time.”

He had lived through countless eras and cycles of cataclysm. Naturally, he knew that the path to transcendence was both a path of hope—and a road to death. For the perfect temporal lifeform path alone, countless Lords had perished.

“I’ve lived long enough... maybe I should try this time?”

The Sage stood before another white jade staircase, the desire rising in his heart.

Although his name was greatly revered among Legendary Lords—just his vast span of years alone was enough to command respect—

He knew very well that beings like Haotian, Fantian, and Wanxiang still looked down on him.

To a Legendary Lord, mere survival meant little.

Dying in pursuit of transcendence—that was the true destiny.

“My old friends... all died on the path to transcendence. Perhaps it’s time for me to take a chance too.”

After countless thoughts, the Sage finally stepped onto the first step.

“Hmm?”

In the chaotic void, Lin Yuan suddenly opened his eyes—he too sensed the strange fluctuation enveloping the dimensional realms.

“The first step of the second phase of the Endless Tribulations... my Tai Chi soul entered a special realm, drawing all my focus. I’m only just noticing this?”

Lin Yuan frowned.

He had thought the first step of phase two would be easy.

And indeed, it was—but it had temporarily tied up all of his attention.

“Milky Way,” came the message from the Violet-Light Legendary Lord. “You’ve probably learned about the white jade staircases by now, right?”

“Yes, just now,” Lin Yuan nodded.

“Some Legendary Lords have already stepped onto them,” said the Violet-Light Legendary Lord. “There are 33,333 white jade staircases scattered across the Infinite Dimensional Multiverse. They’re being regarded as the fourth path to transcendence.”

“The fourth path to transcendence?”

Lin Yuan’s eyes lit up with astonishment, and images of the white jade staircase appeared in front of him.

He’d seen similar scenes more than once before—three times, to be exact.

The last time was over a hundred thousand years ago, when the future self of the Lord of Blood Sea had forced out Lin Yuan’s future self, and the staircase appeared in that vision.

As for the time before that—it was before Lin Yuan had broken through to become a time lifeform.

Just before undergoing the trial of temporal loops, he had slept for two thousand years and dreamed countless bizarre dreams—one of which included a scene of a white jade staircase.

In that dream, he climbed to the top of the staircase and saw an incredible gate of light—and a blurry figure resting at its threshold.

“Climbing the white jade staircase reveals the path your chaotic origin Dao must take to evolve toward the supreme law Dao,” said the Violet-Light Legendary Lord, his tone also uneasy.

For time lifeforms, chaotic origin-level Daos were already the limit.

Even for Legendary Lords, their Daos were merely chaotic origin Daos—only more in number.

But to have their own chaotic origin Dao evolve toward the supreme law Dao? No wonder the white jade staircase was called the fourth path to transcendence. If true, then it was indeed a transcendent path.

Why was the Endless Tribulations path considered a path to transcendence? Because with every tribulation passed, one’s power grew.

Even if no ultimate transformation occurred after all the tribulations, the cumulative power from billions of trials would be enough to transcend.

The white jade staircase followed a similar logic—as long as one's chaotic origin Dao evolved into the supreme law Dao, one would transcend.

“No limitations at all?” Lin Yuan asked.

Even the Endless Tribulations required success in each trial to grow stronger.

There had to be effort before reward.

“There are limitations,” said the Violet-Light Legendary Lord. “According to the current observations, each step provides insight into the direction your chaotic origin Dao must evolve to become a supreme law Dao—but it's only a direction. You have to comprehend it fully and elevate your Dao to that level before stepping onto the next stair.”

“And with each step, you’ll endure a mysterious compressive force—the higher you climb, the stronger the pressure becomes.”

After a pause, he continued, “And most importantly, only Lords can climb the white jade staircases. Time lifeforms below the third realm? They can only sense it—they can’t access it.”

That last part was to be expected—the other paths to transcendence also required one to be a Lord.

“I see.”

Lin Yuan nodded.

“These are the coordinates of the 33,333 white jade staircases. Milky Way, which one will you choose? I want to avoid yours.”

In the dimensional multiverse, the Violet-Light Legendary Lord remembered that Lin Yuan’s future self had once stood atop the white jade staircase.

Though he didn’t know how far Lin Yuan had climbed in that future, it was obvious Lin Yuan had already surpassed most Legendary Lords. Naturally, the Violet-Light Legendary Lord wouldn’t dare choose the same path.

“I’ll choose this one.”

Lin Yuan looked toward one of the staircases.

As he spoke with the Violet-Light Legendary Lord, his true body had already arrived before it.

...

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