Chapter 2418: Ascending the Mountain!

Arriving once again at Eight Emptiness Mountain, it no longer held its former prosperity.

In the past, countless powerful beings from all races had sought enlightenment here.

But now, Eight Emptiness Mountain was desolate, and those experts had long since vanished without a trace.

This place was the gateway to the Middle Realm and was bound to be affected by war.

Seeking enlightenment here any longer was no different from courting death.

However, there were always those who turned a deaf ear to the outside world; a few scattered people remained on Eight Emptiness Mountain.

Ye Yuan ascended the stone steps step by step. The countless restrictions before him now appeared in a different light.

Back when he sought enlightenment on Eight Emptiness Mountain, his insight was too shallow to discover the core of this massive restriction.

Now that he had returned, the restriction no longer seemed as mysterious as before.

Because the very foundation of this formation was passed down by him!

Of course, being less mysterious did not mean the restriction was insignificant.

The Grand Array Ancestor was a supreme being who had reached the level of rules; how could the power of this restriction be ordinary?

This time, Ye Yuan had not come to study the formation but to take control of this earth-shattering grand array!

"Eh, isn't this young friend Ye Yuan? In such chaotic times, why have you returned to Eight Emptiness Mountain?" Suddenly, a surprised voice came from not far away.

Ye Yuan looked over and saw that it was Cultivation Cloud Heavenly Emperor, who had spoken with him when he left Eight Emptiness Mountain after seeking enlightenment back then.

He hadn't expected this person to still be here seeking enlightenment.

Ye Yuan returned the greeting: "So it's Daoist Cultivation Cloud!"

Cultivation Cloud took a closer look and couldn't help but draw a cold breath.

In just a thousand years, Ye Yuan had already reached the peak of the Heavenly Emperor realm, only a step away from the Celestial Being realm!

Moreover, the aura on Ye Yuan was extremely ethereal and elusive, making him somewhat difficult to see through.

Cultivation Cloud couldn't help but feel a bit more solemn in his heart.

"It's been many years since we last met. I didn't expect young friend Ye to soon become one of our kind! However, with the great battle at Eight Emptiness Mountain imminent, coming here to seek enlightenment at this time might be ill-timed," said Cultivation Cloud.

Ye Yuan shook his head: "I'm not here to seek enlightenment."

Cultivation Cloud was taken aback: "Not seeking enlightenment? Then what brings young friend Ye here?"

Ye Yuan did not answer but instead asked, "Daoist Cultivation Cloud, in this chaotic age, the human race needs great experts like you. You have inherited the human race's legacy, yet you think of seclusion—is that truly right?"

Having said that, he paid no more attention to Cultivation Cloud and continued ascending the steps.

Cultivation Cloud's old face flushed red, and he felt quite displeased.

He hadn't expected Ye Yuan to be so blunt.

"Young friend Ye, aren't you the same? What right do you have to lecture me?" Cultivation Cloud said in a deep voice.

"I am different from you!" Ye Yuan said calmly without looking back.

Here, he was already above six thousand li!

The restrictions here had reached nearly the third level of the Source.

Ye Yuan moved through them without any hindrance.

Soon, he surpassed Cultivation Cloud Heavenly Emperor and continued upward.

Seeing this, Cultivation Cloud Heavenly Emperor was once again stunned dumbfounded.

Could it be that Ye Yuan's formation mastery had already surpassed his own?

How... was that possible?

But Ye Yuan had clearly surpassed him!

On Eight Emptiness Mountain, the higher one climbed, the stronger one's strength!

This point had been confirmed by countless formation experts.

The height Ye Yuan had reached was higher than his, proving that Ye Yuan was stronger in formation mastery.

There was no doubt about that!

At this height, there were still a few scattered formation experts, all stirred by Ye Yuan.

"That kid is the one who turned the area above three thousand li upside down back then!"

"In just a thousand years, has his formation mastery become so terrifying?"

"He hasn't stopped yet. Does he intend to go even higher?"

...

Watched by a crowd of experts, Ye Yuan slowly ascended.

Six thousand five hundred li!

Seven thousand li!

Eight thousand li!

Nine thousand li!

Everyone was dumbfounded!

Nine thousand li was the watershed between the second and third levels of the Source!

Reaching this point meant that Ye Yuan's formation mastery had reached the third level of the Source!

But it wasn't over yet.

Ye Yuan continued upward: ten thousand li, thirteen thousand li, eighteen thousand li!

By now, the experts on Eight Emptiness Mountain had all been stirred.

A junior at the Heavenly Emperor realm had actually ascended to a height of eighteen thousand li in one go!

That was the watershed of the fourth level of the Source!

Those who could reach this step were all supreme experts at the Four Declines of the Celestial Being realm, each a earth-shattering figure.

Now, a little fellow had achieved it!

However, Ye Yuan showed no sign of stopping; he was still climbing!

In the grand array of Eight Emptiness Mountain, each level ascended covered a greater distance.

The watershed of the fifth level of the Source was forty thousand li!

All the experts on Eight Emptiness Mountain were shocked.

"No way? He... he isn't really going to walk above forty thousand li, is he?"

"This is too crazy! I've lived all these years in vain!"

"Could it be that at such a young age, his formation mastery has reached the fifth level of the Source? Unbelievable!"

...

Without any surprise, Ye Yuan walked up to forty thousand li!

The fifth level of the Source!

At this moment, the entire Eight Emptiness Mountain was in an uproar!

Even those experts at the third or fourth decline of the Celestial Being realm found their breathing quickening.

They couldn't remember how long it had been since they last felt so unsettled.

It was only because the number of people on Eight Emptiness Mountain had decreased too much; otherwise, at this moment, the entire mountain would be buzzing with discussion.

But this still wasn't the end!

Ye Yuan was still climbing!

The main peak of the Eight Emptiness Mountain range was as high as eighty thousand li!

There lay the summit of Eight Emptiness Mountain, the place where the ultimate mysteries of formations resided!

Yet, throughout the ages, countless geniuses had never set foot on it!

Even formation masters at the Five Declines of the Celestial Being realm could never ascend to the peak.

Because that was where the rules lay!

That was the culmination of the Grand Array Ancestor's life's work!

It was this insurmountable peak that had blocked countless divine race experts.

Above fifty-three thousand li, Ancestor Yuefeng suddenly opened his eyes, shooting out beams of light.

His gaze fell precisely on Ye Yuan.

He was now the only formation supreme at the Five Declines of the Celestial Being realm on Eight Emptiness Mountain.

"Who exactly is this child, to ascend to the peak of forty thousand li at the Heavenly Emperor realm? From the looks of it, does he intend to go even higher?" Yuefeng Ancestor marveled.

Sure enough, Ye Yuan walked leisurely.

His demeanor seemed as if he were admiring the beautiful scenery of Eight Emptiness Mountain.

Those terrifying restrictions seemed to not exist for him at all!

Forty-one thousand li!

Forty-five thousand li!

...

Fifty-three thousand li!

Ye Yuan finally reached the same height as Yuefeng Ancestor!

At this level, the remaining area on the mountain was very small.

Where Ye Yuan passed, he was not far from Yuefeng Ancestor.

However, he did not intend to greet him.

At this point, he disliked anyone still remaining on Eight Emptiness Mountain to seek enlightenment!

"Young friend, please wait!" Yuefeng Ancestor suddenly said.