Chapter 1501: Da Yu and the Ultimate

The vast prairie, stretching endlessly, with sagebrush reaching half a person's height, was originally desolate and silent. But now, it was filled with murderous intent, chilling to the bone.

Chu Feng stared at the remaining members of the Yuan clan: one Heavenly Venerate and eight young individuals.

At this moment, the veteran Heavenly Venerate’s body was taut, hunched like a demonic leopard from chaos, ready to pounce at any moment.

“Before me, Heavenly Venerates should not even dream of being arrogant, let alone escaping!” Chu Feng said calmly, then added, “Tell me about the Yuan clan’s situation.”

With a roar, dozens of massive bolts of lightning, each as thick as a mountain, descended from the sky above the prairie. The veteran Heavenly Venerate of the Yuan clan, in a desperate move, used himself as a conduit to draw down void lightning. He was willing to sacrifice his very essence to unleash lightning approaching the Great Power level, intending to strike Chu Feng dead.

“Ridiculous! I, Chu Ultimate, have just survived the strongest Heavenly Tribulation. And you, a mere Heavenly Venerate, think you can strike me down?” Chu Feng’s expression was indifferent. He then looked up at the sky and roared, “Disperse!”

His voice thundered, and a beam of light, like an immortal’s glow, shot from his mouth. It was imbued with runes, soaring to meet the dozens of astonishing, mountain-thick lightning bolts.

Finally, in mid-air, the thunder was deafening, the void exploded, and the sky was a dazzling expanse. The intense light beams surged with violent force, sweeping through the high heavens.

Chu Feng roared the lightning away, dissipating all of the massive and terrifying electrical bolts.

To be precise, the beam of light from his mouth shattered the lightning. This was because he had manifested the Dual Constant King Dao Fruit, an energy intensity that truly astonished this realm.

Even a veteran Heavenly Venerate, incredibly powerful in this domain, still could not step into the Great Power realm. How could he compare to Chu Feng, who possessed the Dual Constant King Dao Fruit?

“Since you wish to die, I shall send you on your way!”Chu Feng acted ruthlessly. Even if the old man wouldn't speak, there were still God-Kings of the Yuan clan present, so he mercilessly blasted forward.

The veteran Heavenly Venerate fought desperately, urgently reprimanding, “Chu Feng, you devil! You may be arrogant now, but you will be held accountable sooner or later. This era has changed; only those who understand the times can survive!”

Chu Feng gave him no chance. With two explosive punches, the Heavenly Venerate blew apart, his crimson blood splattering onto the prairie, a horrifying sight.

Then, Chu Feng set his sights on the remaining eight disciples. Their designation as 'young disciples' was merely relative; in truth, they were all considerably older than Chu Feng.

Among them, some were over two thousand years old, having achieved the God-King Dao Fruit. After all, there were truly few monsters like Chu Feng in the world.

It had to be said, these members of the Yuan clan were quite stubborn. Chu Feng then attempted to probe the secrets deep within their soul light, but upon touching a restriction, these individuals all turned to ash.

Chu Feng felt no sympathy or pity for this. The Yuan clan had already pledged allegiance to beings from outside the heavens, becoming collaborators. There was nothing to regret.

“The Yuan clan has truly gone mad!” Yu Shang sighed softly.

He knew about the Yuan clan's affairs and could calmly inform Chu Feng.

“More than just mad, they’re utterly deranged!” Chu Feng said.

The Yuan clan had defected long ago, having secured their escape route.

Otherwise, they would never have been so audacious.

Not long ago, the Bronze Coffin fell from beyond the domain, and the Heavenly Emperor appeared in the Soul River, battling in the Sinister Land. Regardless of whether his true body had perished, he had ultimately revealed himself.

Even if it was just an Emperor's shadow, it was enough to awe the world. Yet, the Yuan clan still dared to come and kill his descendants, showing their complete lack of fear, going all the way down a dark path!

This time, Chu Feng felt no psychological burden killing them.

He conversed with Yu Shang, learning many secrets about the Yuan clan, their sect's location, and some of their formidable figures.

“As expected, the Yuan clan has Grand-Auspice level experts!” Chu Feng frowned. These monsters, with their varied and boundlessly terrifying forms, were indeed extremely dreadful, and touching them was inauspicious.

Even he, accustomed to grand spectacles, would have to flee immediately upon encountering a Grand-Auspice monster, otherwise, death would be certain.

“Perhaps there’s also an old Ultimate!” Yu Shang said, his expression extremely solemn.

“An old Ultimate as well?!” Chu Feng was shocked. The Yuan clan was truly abnormal; two such powerful experts in one lineage—how astonishing!

“Exactly. These two formidable experts are their foundation in the Yang Realm!” Yu Shang emphasized.

There was another, more chilling problem: the Yuan clan likely had a very significant origin.

The Yuan clan had always claimed their ancestors were gloriously heaven-defying. Perhaps, in their ancestral land beyond the Yang Realm, there might even be some ancestors who had not yet perished.

Chu Feng felt a headache coming on. The Yuan clan was too powerful. However, this clan was now an enemy, and they would confront them sooner or later. There was nothing to fear.

Of course, this was all predicated on the Yang Realm still having a tomorrow, a future, and the mysterious entities giving humanity time. If so, everything would be manageable.

Otherwise, when the Chief Sacrificers truly arrived, everything would be over.

In any case, for now, the three artifacts outside the firmament still had to hold off the Chief Sacrificers. He wondered how the confrontation and negotiations between those two suspected Immortal Emperor-level beings were progressing.

Perhaps, a result would come soon.

“Why do I feel that the Grand-Auspice level is similar to the Ultimate level?” Chu Feng inquired. Even Jun Tuo, lying beside them on the prairie, listened intently; it also wanted to know.

It wasn't that Chu Feng usually didn't care, but rather that very few people truly understood this.

This was because such a realm was too profound. On the surface, there weren't many individuals at this level in the Yang Realm; they could be counted on one's fingers.

Of course, if one included those operating in the shadows, the number might double.

For ordinary cultivators, this realm was forbidden and insurmountable. They would have no chance to even approach it in this life, let alone understand it.

The common people only knew that Grand-Auspice and Ultimate were often mentioned together, a fact that had leaked from major families.

However, even the scions of some great aristocratic families found it difficult to clearly explain the true nature of Grand-Auspice and Ultimate.

Because Chu Feng was still too far from this level, he had never paid much attention. It was only today, encountering Yu Shang, and with the high probability of confronting such beings in the future, that he seriously inquired.

Yu Shang’s expression was complex. Many years had passed, and his clan had completely declined; there had long been no beings at this level among them.

He sighed softly, then explained, “Grand-Auspice and Ultimate are actually beings of the same level. Once one reaches this realm, they can contend with beings like Immortals, and even slay Immortals.”

“Grand-Auspice and Ultimate are beings of the same level?” Chu Feng was surprised.

At the same time, he asked, “Where exactly are these Immortal beings?”

“Immortals belong to another branch of the evolutionary path. My ancestors once walked that path. We came here anonymously, forced to change our evolutionary route, and as years passed, we even lost the ancestral techniques.”

Yu Shang sighed helplessly.

He also told Chu Feng that, in the past, this world originally had many Immortals who followed that evolutionary path. However, they ultimately vanished, replaced by the pollen cultivation path.

“Immortals, you will see them sooner or later. The Immortals of that world are completely different now, unlike those of the past. They are now known as the Fallen Immortal Race.” Yu Shang shook his head.

Then, he further explained the issue of Grand-Auspice and Ultimate.

“Grand-Auspice and Ultimate are beings of the same level; it’s just that their paths are somewhat different.”

Grand-Auspice is a result of a massive outburst after ingesting pollen and undergoing catalytic evolution. The physical form mutates, displaying indescribable and horrifying changes.

It can be said that this is uncontrollable, a choice made out of helplessness.

When breaking through from the Great Power realm into a higher level, all the accumulated problems within the body are fully unleashed, leading to grotesque transformations and infinitely terrifying physical forms. That is Grand-Auspice.

Ultimate, on the other hand, is a state achieved in a relatively gentle environment when breaking through from the Great Power realm into a higher domain, where the body does not undergo grotesque transformations.

Overall, no one wishes to take the Grand-Auspice path. The Ultimate path is more suitable and gentle, whereas the Grand-Auspice path is simply too brutal, often leading to death.

Moreover, its forms are too terrifying to be acceptable.

It is the culmination and explosive manifestation of all problems accumulated after ingesting pollen and strange fruits!

If a Grand-Auspice being can endure, they will eventually revert, restoring their true form, no longer appearing in such terrifying and chilling guises.

Furthermore, once they endure, their strength will also grow in a brutal manner, becoming extremely formidable.

Ultimate, however, is not completely safe either. It doesn’t guarantee a smooth journey. During this process, mutations can still occur, leading to a being becoming rotten or even an indescribable monster.

Comparatively, the body of an Ultimate being remains relatively normal. With the passage of time and sufficient self-control through arduous cultivation, they can eliminate most, if not all, of the hidden dangers and troubles accumulated from pollen and strange fruits within their bodies.

“Ultimately, Grand-Auspice and Ultimate are meant to unify. Both paths, at their very end, must undergo severe trials. To break through and transcend this great realm, whether one is Grand-Auspice or Ultimate, they must first merge into one, becoming an Auspice-Ultimate being!”

“One realm, two diverging paths, ultimately merging again. So, this great realm can actually be called Auspice-Ultimate?!” Chu Feng asked.

“Exactly!” Yu Shang nodded.

Auspice-Ultimate can truly be considered a single grand realm because it is indeed very abnormal and incredibly difficult to traverse. However, once successful, one becomes outrageously powerful.

Auspice-Ultimate branches into two paths. If one disregards the grotesque mutations and unsightly forms of the Grand-Auspice level, and the fact that it often leads to death, then in terms of raw strength, it's difficult to say who is stronger or weaker.

In fact, the Grand-Auspice level is even more brutal. If one can endure it, the increase in power is even more violent.

Unfortunately, throughout history, almost none of the beings who, after breaking through, immediately triggered internal problems and were forced onto the Grand-Auspice path, survived in the end.

“So, does this mean Li and the Martial Lunatic aren't necessarily stronger than Grand-Auspice beings? It's just that they walked a stable path and didn't experience severe accumulated pollen problems when first breaking through their realm, making them fortunate individuals?”

Chu Feng rubbed his chin, pondering for a moment.

Yu Shang shook his head, saying, “It’s not about being fortunate. It’s because their early foundations were deep enough, and they were confident that they wouldn't undergo strange transformations after breaking through the Great Power realm and entering a higher level. They had long prepared and laid the groundwork for taking the Ultimate path.”

“Foundations deep enough?” Chu Feng felt a bit unsettled.

“Yes, absorbing pollen and ingesting strange fruits—this kind of evolution will cause problems over time. Many people stop at certain major realms to temper themselves and accumulate for a long time before proceeding further. You must pay attention to this!”

Upon hearing this, Chu Feng’s face immediately turned green. His rapid evolution had astonished and terrified the Yuan clan, who deeply felt he was a monster.

This was indeed astonishing. At such a speed, problems should have arisen in the early stages; he should have undergone strange transformations at his current level, yet he remained unharmed.

However, Chu Feng felt uneasy. When he broke through the Great Power realm and entered the Auspice-Ultimate domain, would he directly enter the Grand-Auspice path? Without even a choice?

“At such a young age, I’ll become inauspicious, growing red and black fur all over, with several heads hanging from my navel, and my entire head covered in fleshy tumors? My body will be putrid, covered in scales, even my head will rot away, manifesting all sorts of problems?!”

Chu Feng’s scalp was about to explode. He was just preparing to raid the fortunes of those isolated Yuan clan experts who had established external cave-mansions, all to rapidly advance his own evolution.

But now, a chill rose from his heart, and he felt a shiver down his spine.

“No fear! Whatever grotesque changes, whatever rot, whatever hair growth—I will suppress it all!” Chu Feng was a bit defiant.

“Right, Li and the Martial Lunatic, they can do more than just kill True Immortals, right? Are they confined to merely the Ultimate path?” Chu Feng clearly felt that those two were very strong, far beyond just that.