Chapter 1066: Struggle Ends

When the projection of the Saint Race Great Venerable vanished, countless beings across Hunyuan Heaven collectively exhaled in relief, only then realizing that cold sweat had already drenched their backs. This profound fear was not unfounded, as the Saint Race’s formidable reputation had been forged in blood over countless ages.

In ancient history, countless races were annihilated or enslaved by the Saint Race.

There was even a period when the Human Race suffered continuous defeats and heavy losses. Had it not been for their Great Venerables, who fought one after another and paid an enormous price, humanity might not have found a way to survive under the Saint Race’s relentless suppression.

Even so, if the other races had not clearly felt the immense pressure from the Saint Race, prompting them to later form an alliance, the Human Race alone would still likely not have been a match for them.

For all these reasons, the Saint Race’s power and mystery, as recorded in numerous ancient texts and historical accounts, were truly awe-inspiring.

However, for most beings in Hunyuan Heaven today, with the exception of a few top-tier experts, the direct threat and pressure from the Saint Race had become a distant memory. But the Saint Race Great Venerable’s appearance today, and their cold, merciless gaze, instilled a fear in countless beings that seemed to be rooted deep within their bloodlines.

In this Tianyuan World, the mysterious and tyrannical Saint Race was truly the sharp blade hanging over the heads of all races.

Despite the sudden interlude with the Saint Race Great Venerable, thunderous cheers still erupted throughout the Tianyuan Dwelling when Zhuan Zhu descended from the sky as a streak of light and appeared. Countless gazes of awe and reverence were fixed upon him.

Zhuan Zhu, smiling, waved his hand in all directions. His playful, somewhat unconventional demeanor now struck everyone as incredibly approachable. After all, other Great Venerables were all mysterious and imposing, unlike Zhuan Zhu.

As a result, the cheers within the Tianyuan Dwelling intensified further.

However, before Zhuan Zhu could continue his antics, he sensed a rather displeased gaze from below. He glanced at its source, and with a sudden jolt, his figure flickered, vanishing from the void and reappearing before Xi Jing, Sect Master Xuankun, and the others.

“Whose junior sister is this? She’s absolutely stunning,” Zhuan Zhu remarked, looking at the stern-faced Xi Jing with a somewhat fawning smile.

Xi Jing’s lips curved into a cold sneer. “Oh, you’re quite something,” she said. “When you dumped this position on me, didn’t you claim you’d be out of seclusion in a year?”

Xi Jing glared resentfully at Zhuan Zhu. That elder position had originally been Zhuan Zhu’s responsibility, but he had found an excuse to have her cover for him, promising it would only be for a year. Yet, she had been filling in ever since!

Now, Xi Jing fully realized she had been completely fooled.

Zhuan Zhu simply wanted to avoid the countless tedious affairs of the Tianyuan Region, which was why he had tricked her into taking over, while he himself had vanished without a trace.

Seeing Xi Jing’s intense gaze, Zhuan Zhu’s expression became both awkward and guilty. He appeared behind her, massaging her shoulders ingratiatingly, and said with a bitter face, “Junior Sister, please don’t be angry. It’s not that I, your Senior Brother, am untrustworthy. I truly only intended to be in seclusion for a year, but who would have thought that during my seclusion, I would have an epiphany and sense an opportunity for a breakthrough? That’s what caused the delay.”

Xi Jing, annoyed, rolled her eyes at him and pushed away his solicitous hands. “Oh, please,” she scoffed. “Do you still think I’m that naive fool from back then?”

Nearby, Sect Master Xuankun and Clan Leader Bian Chang were a little reserved upon seeing Zhuan Zhu. After all, he had now advanced to the Saint realm, and even they had to respectfully address him as Great Venerable.

Clan Leader Mu Ni, however, was more at ease, her smile still gentle. Xi Jing and Zhuan Zhu had always maintained a close relationship with her, and she was genuinely pleased to see Zhuan Zhu successfully break through to the Saint realm.

Zhuan Zhu smiled back at Mu Ni, greeting her, “Aunt Ni.”

He then turned to Sect Master Xuankun and Clan Leader Bian Chang, saying, “It’s truly been a lot of trouble for all of you these past years.”

Sect Master Xuankun and Clan Leader Bian Chang shook their heads repeatedly, their faces beaming with joy. With a Great Venerable now overseeing the Tianyuan Region, everything would change for the better. For years, they had suffered enough from the lack of a Great Venerable backing them.

“With Great Venerable Zhuan Zhu’s return, our Tianyuan Region can finally breathe a sigh of relief,” Sect Master Xuankun exclaimed.

Bian Chang nodded in profound agreement, then hesitated, “Regarding Bai Ye…”

Bai Ye, leading the Bai Clan, had all but betrayed the Tianyuan Region, nearly bringing about its devastating destruction.

Zhuan Zhu waved his hand, then blew a puff of white mist.

The white mist rose before them, forming a luminous screen. Within it, a majestic mountain of Genesis Qi stood tall, its surface clear and translucent like a gem, a testament to Genesis Qi compressed to an incredibly terrifying degree. On its walls, faint ancient light patterns emerged, exuding an inexplicably dreadful pressure.

At the foot of the colossal mountain, a figure lay miserably suppressed.

Half of that figure’s body lay outside the mountain’s base, and no matter how fiercely they struggled, they could not budge the gem-like peak by an inch.

By its appearance, it was Bai Ye!

Zhuan Zhu smiled faintly, “Bai Ye has been suppressed by me. As for how to handle him, I’ll leave that to the Elder Council later.”

Hearing his understated words and seeing Bai Ye so utterly suppressed, the awe in Xuankun and Bian Chang’s eyes deepened. They had not witnessed Zhuan Zhu making any specific move against Bai Ye; it was clear that it had been done with a single thought. This Genesis Realm expert, previously on their level, had been suppressed with such ease.

A Saint Great Venerable, indeed terrifying.

Xi Jing looked at the suppressed Bai Ye, her gaze complex. After all, they had worked together for so many years; who could have imagined Bai Ye would betray them?

She shook her head subtly, collecting her thoughts. “Oh, by the way,” she said, “let me introduce someone to you.”

Xi Jing flicked her finger, and Zhou Yuan, who was standing below, felt a cloud of Genesis Qi form beneath his feet, swiftly lifting him up.

“Senior Brother, do you know his identity?” Xi Jing asked, pointing at Zhou Yuan, clearly enjoying the suspense.

To her surprise, Zhuan Zhu simply looked at Zhou Yuan and chuckled, “Isn’t that Junior Brother Zhou Yuan?”

His eyes gleamed with intense interest. He circled Zhou Yuan, whose expression was bewildered, and even patted his chest, causing Zhou Yuan’s hairs to stand on end. Zhou Yuan stared warily at this Senior Brother he had never met.

“What are you doing?” Xi Jing slapped away Zhuan Zhu’s wandering hand, saying crossly.

Zhuan Zhu chuckled, “I just wanted to see what kind of person could ignite a spark with *her*.”

His smile was a little suggestive. Zhou Yuan was momentarily stunned, then vaguely realized: was he referring to Yaoyao?

“You… you’ve met Master Cang Yuan?” Zhou Yuan asked in surprise.

Only Zhuan Zhu, having met Cang Yuan, would know certain things about Yaoyao and him.

But what exactly did that strange look in his eyes mean? Isn’t it perfectly normal for Yaoyao and me, a talented man and beautiful woman, to have a spark?

It’s not like I have a spark with Tun Tun!

Zhuan Zhu patted the large gourd behind him and smiled, “This great treasure of mine was obtained thanks to Master’s guidance.”

Xi Jing scoffed. So, this guy had met Master; no wonder he knew Zhou Yuan’s identity.

However, Zhuan Zhu’s interjection made Zhou Yuan feel a bit closer to this Senior Brother. His playful attitude, completely devoid of the airs of a Great Venerable, indeed made him approachable and easy to like.

After they had chatted for a while, Xi Jing suddenly asked, “What was that all about with the Saint Race Great Venerable?”

The atmosphere immediately grew tense. Zhou Yuan, Sect Master Xuankun, and the others all stared at Zhuan Zhu, clearly extremely curious.

Zhuan Zhu sighed. “As for the specifics,” he said, “let’s first sort out the mess here in the Tianyuan Dwelling, and then I’ll tell you. In any case, Great Venerable Wan Zu probably won’t have time to cause trouble again for a while…”

“Of course…”

“…I’m afraid the entire Hunyuan Heaven will find no peace.”