After surpassing the Anxing, Lin Yuan did not slack offâhe continued climbing with all his strength.
Although he held an absolute lead on this white jade staircase, what about the other ones?
It had to be remembered: the number of white jade staircases formed by this transcendent power totaled thirty-three thousand three hundred and thirty-three.
The one Lin Yuan was on didnât have much competition. Aside from him, the strongest contenders were legendary lords like the Anxing and Zhuohe Lord, who had endured some 250 to 260 million tribulations.
On other white jade staircases, the strongest might have endured as many as 280 to 290 million tribulationsâor even over 300 million tribulations, like the Fantian Lord or the Haotian Lord.
Though Lin Yuanâs strength was terrifying, when it came to climbing the white jade staircases, power was only one factor.
Those ancient legendary lords who had lived through endless ages and amassed vast accumulationsâwho knew what methods they had?
These ancient legendary lords had been trapped in their current realm for who knew how long. Once they received guidance from the white jade staircases and found a direction for the transformation of their chaotic origin Daos, their climbing speed might not be much slower than Lin Yuanâs.
Of course, Lin Yuan trusted in his own Unrivaled Insight.
Perhaps in the short term, those ancient legendary lords, with their deep accumulation, could temporarily surpass him.
But over time, even the deepest accumulation would run dry, while Lin Yuanâs Unrivaled Insight was endless.
âHm?â
As he continued to climb, the white jade staircase guided Lin Yuanâs cultivation path, countless sparks of enlightenment colliding within his mind.
âThe Fifth Tai of the Innate Five TaiâŠâ
Lin Yuan murmured, a light shining in his eyes. Deep within them, the powers of Tai Yi, Tai Chu, Tai Shi, and Tai Su intertwined, subtly resonating with his chaotic origin Tao of Tai Chi.
The four Tai powers fused perfectly with his Tao of Tai Chi.
âTai Chi⊠is the fifth Tai of the Innate Five Tai.â
Lin Yuanâs eyes gleamed.
Strictly speaking, the power of the fifth Tai in the Innate Five Tai could be nurtured from within the chaotic origin Tao of Tai Chi.
âSo thatâs how it is.â
A thoughtful look crossed Lin Yuanâs face.
In the fourth Source World, he had observed its newborn era and grasped the foundation of the âInnate Five Tai.â Originally, he had thought that this power came entirely from that Source World.
But now it seemed the root of the Innate Five Tai lay within himselfâwithin the chaotic origin Tao of Tai Chi he had mastered.
Tai Yi, Tai Chu, Tai Shi, Tai Su, and Tai Chiâeach Tai power represented a different stage, with Tai Chi symbolizing the final stage.
And with the power of Tai Chi, restoring the other four Tai powers was a natural, seamless process.
Even without the experience of the fourth Source World, through comprehending the chaotic origin Tao of Tai Chi and understanding its Tai Chi power, he would eventually grasp the other four Tai powers.
It would just take more time.
âNext, my cultivation path will be to nurture the âTaiâ Chi power from within the chaotic origin Tao of Tai Chi.â
Lin Yuan thought rapidly.
The âTaiâ Chi power here was not the same as the Tai Chi power he had mastered before becoming a time lifeform.
The former emphasized âTaiââit was the Tai power from the Innate Five Tai.
âIf not for climbing the white jade staircases, I donât know how long it wouldâve taken to nurture this âTaiâ Chi power.â
A smile appeared on Lin Yuanâs face.
The white jade staircase had pointed out the direction of the Tao of Tai Chiâs transformation. The stronger the Tao of Tai Chi grew, the easier it became to nurture the âTaiâ Chi power.
As Lin Yuan continued his climbâ
In the endless dimensional layers, the gazes of countless legendary lords turned toward the white jade staircase Lin Yuan was on.
Among the thirty-three thousand three hundred and thirty-three white jade staircases, battles between legendary lords occurred constantly.
But few involved lords like the Zhuohe Lord, who had endured 250 million tribulations. Especially since that lord had been crushed effortlessly by Lin Yuan.
Within a vast space-timeâ
Several figures sat cross-legged.
These included the Haotian Lord, the Fantian Lord, the Wanxiang Lordâeach of them legendary lords who had survived 300 million tribulations.
In the current spacetime of the endless dimensions, such powerful beings were extremely rareâthey all knew each other.
When the white jade staircases appeared, these legendary lords had projected incarnations into this space.
At least for now, each of them held a commanding lead on their own staircase. There was no direct competition yet.
âHaotian, did you see the battle footage of the Milky Way Lord?â Wanxiang Lord asked as he glanced at Haotian.
When Lin Yuan obliterated the Zhuohe Lord, many other legendary lords had witnessed it, and footage had spread.
Not to mention, the Zhuohe Lord himself had recorded the fight.
âI saw it,â Haotian Lord opened his eyes and nodded. âIâm no match for the Milky Way.â
As one of the renowned âTwin Heavensâ, it was astonishing for Haotian to admit defeat so openly.
âYouâre not a match?â
Wanxiang Lord was surprised.
Judging from the strength Lin Yuan had displayed, Haotian truly wasnât his equal.
But as legendary lords, each had their own hidden trump cards.
Even if Lin Yuan had cards he hadnât revealed, Haotian shouldnât admit defeat so easily, should he?
What outsiders thought was one thingâbut Haotian himself admitting defeat meant that even with all his cards and killer moves, he still couldnât match the Milky Way Lordâs open power.
âThe power that Milky Way Lord commands⊠itâs monstrous,â Fantian Lord said with a tone of awe.
The higher oneâs realm, the more clearly one could sense the terrifying nature of Lin Yuanâs power. The intertwining of Tai Yi, Tai Chu, Tai Shi, and Tai Suâit could sweep through the endless dimensional layers.
Wanxiang Lord listened quietly.
Although Fantian Lord hadnât said it outrightâ
His meaning was clear: even he acknowledged he was no match for the Milky Way Lord.
âA new transcendent path has emerged, and sure enough, countless unimaginable variables have come with it,â said a fourth legendary lord.
In the past, beings at their level were legendary in their own rightârespected throughout time and space.
Forget new peersâeven those approaching their level would be known to them. Yet now, the Milky Way Lord had already surpassed them, and this was the first theyâd heard of him.
âHeâs definitely a variable,â Wanxiang Lord nodded, then looked at the others with a solemn expression. âWith the Milky Way Lordâs strength, if any one of us encounters him aloneâwe wonât be able to stop him.â
These words left the legendary lords in silence.
It was true.
Perhaps they wouldnât be crushed instantly like the Zhuohe Lordâ
But defeat would only be a matter of time.
âWeâve known each other for years,â Wanxiang Lord continued. âIf we ever find ourselves on opposite sides from the Milky Way Lord on this new path to transcendence, I hope we can join forcesâto eliminate him first.â
âJoin forces?â
Haotian and Fantian Lords considered.
Normally, their pride wouldnât allow them to gang up on someone.
But this was the path to transcendence.
Everything was subordinate to that ultimate goal. For the weaker side to join forces against the stronger was perfectly natural.
If they didnât, and were defeated one by one by the Milky Way Lord, then transcendence would be out of reach.
Only by joining forces and removing him first would they still have a chance.
As for what would happen after?
At least theyâd still have a shot at victoryâunlike facing the Milky Way Lord, which felt utterly hopeless.
âNo problem.â
âNo problem.â
Haotian and Fantian Lords nodded one after another.
Elsewhere on another white jade staircaseâ
A figure known as the Sage had burning eyes. âIâve lived through endless ages, born shortly after the endless dimensional layers came into being. Though I havenât endured as many tribulations as Haotian and Fantian, I definitely have the deepest accumulation.â
The Sage was excited. Before the white jade staircases appeared, all that accumulation was uselessâbecause he had no path for his chaotic origin Dao to transform. The depth of his foundation couldnât be utilized at all.
But now?
As he climbed, his accumulation was rapidly ignitedâhis strength soaring.
âThis new path to transcendence is perfect for me. Maybe my chance lies here?â
The Sage steadied himself and continued climbing.
âHuff!â
While ascending the white jade staircase, Lin Yuan continuously attempted to nurture the âTaiâ Chi power from his chaotic origin Tao of Tai Chi.
Strands of strange power emerged, intertwining with the other four Tai powers.
As more âTaiâ Chi power was born, quantity became quality. At last, a complete âTaiâ Chi power formed, standing alongside Tai Yi, Tai Chu, Tai Shi, and Tai Su.
âInnate Five TaiâŠâ
Lin Yuan let out a long breath, smiling.
The complete five Tai powers intertwined, massively enhancing his physical body and soul. In that moment, all his true bodies, incarnations, and soul aspects surged wildly in power.
Compared to when he had only four Tai powers, the fusion of five marked a qualitative leapâa kind of perfection.
âMy strength now⊠has increased tremendously.â
Lin Yuan gently shook his head. At this moment, he stood far above the legendary lords who had endured 300 million tribulations. Perhaps heâd reached 320 million? 329 million?
On this path of endless tribulations, the third stage contained 330 million in total. The final 3,000 were the hardest, but overcoming them brought the greatest boosts.
Now, Lin Yuan felt his power might already be approaching the level of those who had endured 333 million tribulationsâthe end of the path.
âBut I still feel like Iâm far from evolving a supreme Law Dao⊠The end of this path of endless tribulations isnât true transcendence?â
Thoughts flickered through Lin Yuanâs mind, but he quickly pushed them down and focused on climbing.
Whether endless tribulations led to transcendence or not, what mattered now was climbing the white jade staircase.
âThe Innate Five Tai consists ofâTai Yi, Tai Chu, Tai Shi, Tai Su, and Tai Chi.â
âSince Tai Chi was nurtured from my chaotic origin Tao of Tai Chi, then the other four Tai powers must also need corresponding chaotic origin Daos.â
Step by step, Lin Yuan climbed the staircase. The path to a supreme Law Dao became clearer, and he quickly understood his next tasks.
Using the powers of Tai Yi, Tai Chu, Tai Shi, and Tai Su as foundations, he would evolve the chaotic origin Tao of Tai Yi, Tai Chu, Tai Shi, and Tai Su.
In one spacetimeâ
Lin Yuan was chatting with the Purple Light Legendary Lord and others.
Though most of his energy was focused on the white jade staircase, he still occasionally checked in on outside news.
It served as a brief reprieve from the climb.
âMilky Way, that Zhuohe Lord didnât even last half a breath against youâhow strong are you now?â Purple Light said in awe.
Even without the Anxingâs insight, Purple Light could tellâeven Haotian and the others probably werenât Lin Yuanâs match anymore.
Lin Yuan simply smiled.
And occasionally replied casually.
âBy the way, Milky Way, be careful. Haotian and Fantian are definitely keeping tabs on youâthey might join forces later.â
Purple Light said.
He felt only admiration for Lin Yuan now. The strength gap between them was too greatâthere was no competition at all.
So he sincerely warned him.
Haotian, Fantian, and the other 300-million-tribulation lords had known each other for ages. If things reached the point of conflict with Lin Yuan, theyâd likely join forces to take him down first.
Because Lin Yuan was the greatest unknownâand the biggest threat.
âI understand.â
Lin Yuan nodded.
If this had been before he nurtured the âTaiâ Chi power, he mightâve feared them.
With only the four Tai powers, he could suppress a single 300-million-tribulation lord at most. If they joined forces? He wouldnât have stood a chance.
But now?
With the birth of the fifth TaiââTaiâ ChiâLin Yuanâs power had undergone a qualitative leap. He felt he could challenge even lords who had endured beyond 320 million tribulations.
In a sense, now that the Innate Five Tai was complete, he no longer considered the legendary lords of this spacetime a threat.
On the endless white jade staircaseâ
Lin Yuanâs figure was alone, climbing endlessly.
âHuh?â
At that moment, Lin Yuan stopped and looked up toward the summit of the staircase.
By now, he had reached a towering height. Looking around, time and space grew blurryâno other climbers could be seen.
But from this height, he could vaguely glimpse the other thirty-three thousand three hundred and thirty-two white jade staircases.
And as he looked higher, he noticedâat greater heights, all the staircases began to converge.
Until finallyâ
They merged into a single white jade staircase.
âAll thirty-three thousand three hundred and thirty-three white jade staircases⊠ultimately converge into one?â
Lin Yuanâs sleeves fluttered as he gazed into the distance.
...
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