Chapter 10: The Opportunity Granted

The resounding chime in his mind slowly faded after lingering for a good while. Zhou Yuan could now feel the soul-forging technique, named "Chaos God Mill Contemplation Method," imprinted in his mind.

However, it was not the time for contemplation, so Zhou Yuan opened his eyes and respectfully bowed to the smiling old man in black before him. "Thank you, Master, for imparting this technique," he said.

He could vaguely sense that neither the Qi-guiding technique nor the soul-forging technique was ordinary. The old man in black, though mysterious, had truly bestowed upon him a great opportunity.

The old man in black waved his hand and hesitated for a moment. Suddenly, he reached into his robe and pulled out a black brush, about a foot long. The brush looked as if it were cast from bronze; its mottled surface bore the marks of time and exuded an ancient, weathered aura.

However, the black brush was somewhat dull and lacked luster, as if it had lost its spiritual essence.

The old man in black stroked the brush, seemingly reluctant to part with it, but eventually handed it to Zhou Yuan, saying, "Consider this my welcoming gift to you.”

Zhou Yuan respectfully took the black brush. It felt slightly heavy in his hand. As he gazed at the ancient patterns on its body, he faintly sensed a sharp aura.

"Is this a Genesis Rune Brush?" Zhou Yuan asked curiously.

"It is both a Genesis Rune Brush and a Genesis Weapon," the old man in black said with a smile.

Zhou Yuan was momentarily stunned and somewhat perplexed. A Genesis Rune Brush was a specialized medium for engraving Genesis Runes, while a Genesis Weapon was used for combat. They should be distinct categories; how could they be combined into one?

Moreover, the black brush in his hand looked rather fragile. How could it be used to harm an enemy?

"Heh, it seems you've underestimated it," the old man in black chuckled, seeing Zhou Yuan's expression. "This brush is called the Heavenly Yuan Brush, and it was once a Saint Genesis Weapon.”

"A Saint Genesis Weapon?!" Zhou Yuan gasped, staring in astonishment at the mottled, ancient black brush in his hand, his eyes filled with disbelief.

In this world, Genesis Weapons have their own tiers, roughly divided into Ordinary, Profound, Heaven, and Saint. As far as Zhou Yuan knew, the strongest Genesis Weapon in their Great Zhou Imperial Family was the Nine-Flame Spear in his father's hand, but even that was merely a top-grade Profound Genesis Weapon.

Legend had it that Saint Genesis Weapons possessed unimaginable power, capable of burning mountains and boiling seas, making people both covetous and fearful.

Yet now, this mottled black brush in Zhou Yuan's hand, which appeared to have no power, was supposedly a Saint Genesis Weapon?

"I said it *was* a Saint Genesis Weapon," the old man in black sighed softly, saying, "The Heavenly Yuan Brush accompanied me through countless battles, but it was severely damaged and destroyed in one of them.”

Only then did Zhou Yuan understand. So it was a destroyed Saint Genesis Weapon.

Seeing Zhou Yuan's expression, the old man in black couldn't help but say, somewhat exasperated, "Do you really think I'm so stingy as to give you a piece of junk, boy? Although the Heavenly Yuan Brush was heavily damaged, it is still a Saint Genesis Weapon, and its spiritual essence remains. As long as you nourish it day and night, it might gradually recover.”

"Oh?" Zhou Yuan was astonished. Could this Saint Genesis Weapon still be salvaged?

The old man in black pointed at the black brush and said, "Do you see the nine Genesis Runes on it?”

Zhou Yuan looked down and saw that on the mottled body of the black brush, nine ancient and complex Genesis Runes faintly appeared, though they were too dim to be easily discernible.

"These nine Genesis Runes represent the power of the Heavenly Yuan Brush. If one day you can light up all nine of them, then it will recover its power as a Saint Genesis Weapon.”

"How do I light them up?" Zhou Yuan asked with interest. If he could restore the power of this Saint Genesis Weapon, it would undoubtedly be of immense help to him.

"Heh heh, it's simple. The Heavenly Yuan Brush has a spirit. If you can nourish it with the souls of Genesis Beasts, its power will naturally recover gradually.”

"Of course, the higher the grade of the Genesis Beast soul, the better the effect.”

“As for how the Heavenly Yuan Brush can become a weapon to fight against others, you will know once you light up its first Genesis Rune,” the old man in black said with a smile.

Although Zhou Yuan knew that restoring the Heavenly Yuan Brush to its Saint Genesis Weapon tier would certainly not be easy, he still nodded gently. The Heavenly Yuan Brush twirled nimbly between his fingers. He then smiled at the old man in black again and said, "Thank you again, Master, for the brush. But even now, this disciple still doesn't know your esteemed name?”

Hearing this, the old man in black smiled faintly and said, "Cang Yuan. That is my name. I also have two other disciples, who would be your senior brothers. If fate allows, perhaps you will meet them; if not, then so be it.”

After Cang Yuan finished speaking, he no longer paid attention to Zhou Yuan. Instead, he turned to look at the girl in blue. She was lightly biting her moist lips with her pearly teeth, her bright eyes slightly lowered, reflecting a touch of sadness at their impending separation.

Ever since she could remember, she had lived here with Cang Yuan. To her, Cang Yuan was undoubtedly the closest person. Thus, even with her detached disposition, she felt a wave of melancholy.

"Alas, my foolish child, all feasts must end.” Cang Yuan sighed softly, then fell silent for a moment. Suddenly, he pulled a jade pendant from his robe. The pendant glowed faintly, and etched upon it was a faintly burning nine-petaled fire lotus, each petal displaying a different color.

"Yao Yao, I know you have many questions for me, but now is not the time. Take this; perhaps in the future, if the opportunity arises, you will understand.”

“Also, if the fire lotus on this pendant ever begins to burn, be very careful. That will mean *they* are coming for you!”

"Who are they? Why are they looking for me?" Yao Yao asked urgently.

Her heart was full of mysteries. Who were *they*? Why had she lived alone with old man Hei here ever since she could remember, as if they were hiding from something?

Cang Yuan fell silent, not answering Yao Yao's question. He simply placed the jade pendant gently into Yao Yao's hand, then looked at Zhou Yuan and said in a deep voice, "Zhou Yuan, remember this: do not let Yao Yao break her seal and use Genesis Qi, or it will surely bring disaster.”

Zhou Yuan's heart trembled slightly. He glanced at the faintly visible light patterns between Yao Yao's eyebrows. So, that was actually a seal. This meant Yao Yao wasn't unable to use Genesis Qi; rather, she was sealed...

But why would someone do that?

Zhou Yuan had some doubts in his mind, but he wisely did not ask further. Cang Yuan and Yao Yao before him were undoubtedly extremely mysterious. There must be another story behind them.

Moreover, a story of that magnitude was likely beyond his current ability to comprehend or even be privy to.

"Master, rest assured, I have remembered,” Zhou Yuan said earnestly.

Cang Yuan nodded and said, "In the future, if you have any questions about cultivation, you can ask Yao Yao. She has followed me for so many years and has long since 'emptied' my knowledge. Of course, that depends on whether she's willing to help.”

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yuan's eyes immediately brightened as he looked at the young lady in blue beside him. He had initially worried about encountering difficulties while cultivating alone, but he never expected this young lady to be so profound. It seemed he would have to curry favor with her more in the future.

However, the young lady in blue was still immersed in the sadness of parting, and had no time to pay him any attention.

"You two should leave now," Cang Yuan said slowly, patting the girl in blue's small hand.

"Leave now?" Zhou Yuan was taken aback. "Isn't that a bit too sudden?"

"Right now, leave immediately!" Cang Yuan said in a deep voice, his tone gaining a hint of sternness.

Zhou Yuan said nothing more. He keenly sensed that Cang Yuan was rushing them away, implying that something was about to happen here.

Cang Yuan waved his sleeve. Dust swirled on the ground in front of the thatched hut, and ancient patterns immediately emerged. Upon closer inspection, they were clearly profound and mysterious Genesis Runes.

These Genesis Runes were clearly identical to those on the stone platform from which Zhou Yuan had arrived.

Seeing Cang Yuan's gaze, Zhou Yuan quickly stepped forward and entered the formation composed of Genesis Runes. The girl in blue, holding the small beast named Tun Tun, gazed blankly at Cang Yuan.

"Go. It's not necessarily goodbye forever," Cang Yuan said, waving his hand.

The girl in blue's eyes were slightly red, but she ultimately didn't shed tears or make a scene. Instead, she bowed deeply to Cang Yuan, then stepped into the Genesis Rune formation and stood beside Zhou Yuan.

Seeing this, Cang Yuan immediately flicked his finger. Immediately, the surrounding Genesis Runes erupted with light. The light converged and swiftly enveloped Zhou Yuan and Yao Yao.

"Zhou Yuan, remember your promise to me: you must protect her well!”

Light filled his vision. Just as space began to distort, Zhou Yuan heard Cang Yuan's deep voice. In that voice, there seemed to be a hint of plea.

"Master, please rest assured! Having received your teachings, I shall certainly fulfill the duty of protection!”

Zhou Yuan closed his eyes and murmured in his heart.

In front of the thatched hut, light flared brightly and fierce winds raged. The next moment, Zhou Yuan and Yao Yao's figures vanished into thin air. Only the Genesis Runes on the ground still flickered with light, but after a while, they, too, completely faded, leaving no trace.

Cang Yuan gazed at the spot where the two had vanished, a hint of sadness in his expression. He murmured softly, "The Zhou family… just as that old fellow said, I was able to take in another disciple. However, his future depends on his own destiny.”

He shook his head, composing himself, and slowly reclined in his lounge chair, gently rocking it.

A profound silence settled over the entire world.

The silence lasted for an unknown period. Suddenly, Cang Yuan opened his tightly closed eyes, his gaze fixed faintly on the void.

Boom! Boom!

Suddenly, violent thunder roared through the heavens and earth. From the distant sky, a waterfall of lightning seemed to descend, tearing the space apart with an incredibly brutal force.

The earth began to crumble, and forests collapsed in swathes.

"So, they've finally arrived.” Cang Yuan gazed at the destructive scene, his aged face remaining calm as he murmured to himself.

"Oh well, after so many years of recuperation, these old bones are getting rusty. It's time to stretch a bit…” Cang Yuan smiled, then slowly rose from his lounge chair.

His aged body was slightly hunched, but the moment he stood, his black robe slowly swelled. An indescribably terrifying aura, like a slumbering enraged dragon, thoroughly awakened at that instant.

From the distant sky, overwhelming lightning descended. Within it, three figures, entirely enveloped in lightning, slowly descended. As they appeared, three terrifying pressures emanated from their bodies, engulfing the entire world as if they were deities.

Their cold gazes, from afar, were fixed upon Cang Yuan.

"Heh heh, the dignified Black Emperor, hiding like a rat for so many years… truly pathetic,” an emotionless voice descended from the sky. Where the voice spread, the space rapidly crumbled.

"Hand over the person! Otherwise, this place shall be the burial ground of you, the Black Emperor, today!”

Cang Yuan heard the indifferent, cold shout echoing through the heavens and earth. A mocking smile curled at his lips, and then he burst into thunderous laughter that reverberated everywhere.

"Haha! Come, come, come! This old man would like to see whose burial ground this place will be today!”

Cang Yuan took a step forward. Immediately, his upper garments tore apart, revealing his withered body. However, etched upon that body were complex, ancient Genesis Runes. Each rune radiated terrifying fluctuations.

All those Genesis Runes burst forth with dazzling light at that moment. The light rose like a scorching sun, and Cang Yuan's originally withered body abruptly expanded at the same instant.

In just a few breaths, a giant figure stood erect between the heavens and earth. A surging, domineering aura swept through the area.

He roared to the sky, his voice shaking the air. The next moment, he stomped his foot. His enormous body shot upwards, colliding with the boundless, endless ocean of lightning descending from the heavens.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

At that very instant, the entire space began to shatter.