Chapter 112: A Stroke of Fate

In the courtyard, the old man in grey robes smiled as he looked at Zhou Yuan and said, "Boy, among the younger generation in the Great Zhou Dynasty, your achievements must be considered top-tier now, wouldn't you say?"

Zhou Yuan chuckled, "The Great Zhou Dynasty is merely a corner of the world. What's the point of being top-tier here?"

"At least you have some self-awareness," the old man in grey robes replied with a smile.

"I know the Great Zhou Dynasty's arch-rival is the Great Wu, correct? And your current formidable opponent is that 'Python Sparrow' from the Great Wu, isn't it? Heh, it's a bit inappropriate to still call them 'Python Sparrows' now. Thanks to you, those two have risen with the wind, truly embodying the potential of dragons and phoenixes."

The old man in grey robes tapped his withered fingers lightly on the armrest, stating calmly, "Wu Huang, the crown prince of the Great Wu Dynasty, is reportedly now in the late Heavenly Pass stage, just one step away from the Grand Primordium stage."

Zhou Yuan's pupils constricted slightly. Wu Huang had already reached the late Heavenly Pass stage? He truly was far ahead of him.

Although Zhou Yuan had displayed the power to slay someone in the Grand Primordium stage when quelling the rebellion of Prince Qi, he knew very well that it was only because he had borrowed external power. Without the power of "Silver Shadow," his current strength would make him easy prey for any Grand Primordium expert.

According to Zhou Yuan's estimation, he might be able to contend with an early Heavenly Pass stage master using "Heavenly Profound Python Qi" and "Resentful Dragon Poison," but against someone in the late Heavenly Pass stage, his chances of victory were probably less than ten percent. Furthermore, the power of "Silver Shadow" came with severe repercussions, so Zhou Yuan would likely not dare to use it easily in the future unless it was a matter of life or death.

"Moreover, don't assume his late Heavenly Pass stage is just ordinary," the old man in grey robes said with a chuckle. "As far as I know, Wu Huang is also a formidable individual capable of fighting above his rank. With his late Heavenly Pass strength, he once slew a Grand Primordium expert on the battlefield. That kill was achieved with genuine ability, unlike yours, which seems to have quite a bit of 'water' in comparison."

Zhou Yuan remained relatively calm despite the old man's teasing, as he had never underestimated the Crown Prince of the Great Wu. Wu Huang possessed far more resources than him; his cultivation techniques, Origin Arts, and the Origin Weapons and Treasures he wielded were certainly extraordinary. With all these advantages combined, it was natural for him to have the capital to fight above his rank.

"The guidance you mentioned, senior, isn't just to scold me with this, is it?" Zhou Yuan asked with a smile.

The old man in grey robes shook his head. "The Great Zhou Dynasty is too small, like a birdcage. An eagle soaring through the nine heavens must endure the baptism of storms. Staying in such a small cage will only narrow your horizons, deplete your talent, and eventually lead you to mediocrity, leaving you far behind true prodigies."

Zhou Yuan finally showed a thoughtful expression. He deeply agreed with the old man's words. The Great Zhou was indeed too small, and the number of talented individuals he could interact with was extremely limited, offering no opportunities for true tempering.

"Senior... do you wish for me to leave the Great Zhou?" Zhou Yuan asked slowly.

The old man in grey robes smiled faintly. "Long ago, a Saint fell in this world. Where their holy blood landed, it transformed into a Sacred Vestige Land, filled with various marvels and opportunities, attracting countless prodigies to compete for them. This is because obtaining that 'holy blood' would allow one to be called a Saint Child and lay a Saint Foundation, which is truly a great fortune and opportunity. In the future, it might even enable one to condense a Saint Embryo, establish a Dharma Domain, or even... glimpse the mysteries of a Saint."

Hearing the old man's ancient voice, Zhou Yuan felt somewhat lost, as everything being described was beyond his comprehension.

"What is... a Saint?" Zhou Yuan asked with some difficulty, as if the two words themselves contained immense mystique, causing the Origin Qi within him to tremble even as he spoke them.

The old man in grey robes pondered for a moment, then chuckled, "That's a bit too far for you right now. You only need to know that those who can be called Saints are extremely rare in the entire world. A single drop of a Saint's blood can turn into an ocean. When that Saint fell back then, their holy blood and remains scattered across the world, forming several Sacred Vestige Lands. And on the Boundless Continent, there is indeed one such Sacred Vestige Land."

Zhou Yuan's pupils involuntarily contracted. After all that talk, had they finally gotten to the main point?

The old man in grey robes smiled, "Currently, almost all the young prodigies on the Boundless Continent are preparing for that Sacred Vestige Land, cultivating diligently. I've heard that the Crown Prince of the Great Wu has been cultivating assiduously for several years specifically for this, clearly determined to claim it. Other great dynasties and influential families have also sent out the chosen ones they've painstakingly nurtured, all aiming to seize the great fortune within that Sacred Vestige Land. Once you obtain such a great fortune, the 'Six Saint Sects' within the 'Azure Mystic Heaven' will notice you and take you in."

"Six Saint Sects?" Zhou Yuan asked, bewildered. He knew about the Azure Mystic Heaven, which was the name of the realm he lived in, and the Boundless Continent was just one part of it. But he had never heard of these so-called Six Saint Sects.

"It's normal that you haven't heard of them," the old man in grey robes replied with a smile. "At your level, even your father, the king, probably can't come into contact with them. Simply put, these Six Saint Sects are the rulers of the Azure Mystic Heaven. Their vast power overshadows the world, and you are but ants beneath them."

Zhou Yuan let out a bitter laugh. That was indeed too distant a level; at his current stage, he couldn't possibly reach it. However, after this explanation, Zhou Yuan finally understood the significance of the Sacred Vestige Land. If even Wu Huang and the proud scions of numerous great dynasties and influential families coveted it so greatly, one could only imagine what kind of fortune and opportunity it truly represented.

"But if the Sacred Vestige Land is so important, won't various forces dispatch powerful experts?" Zhou Yuan suddenly asked. If those great dynasties directly sent Grand Primordium or even stronger Divine Dwelling stage experts, then even the most formidable young prodigies would likely be unable to compete.

"The Sacred Vestige Land possesses the might of a Saint. The stronger a person is, the greater the suppression they experience upon entering," the old man in grey robes explained with a smile. "If those experts aren't afraid of being slain by some youngsters due to the suppression, they probably wouldn't dare to enter easily."

He gazed at Zhou Yuan, a glint flashing in his cloudy eyes as he chuckled, "Boy, if the great fortune of that Sacred Vestige Land falls into the hands of the Great Wu's Crown Prince, I can assure you, your chances of surpassing him will become exceedingly slim. He would use this to get many steps ahead of you, and you might even... never be able to catch up."

The old man in grey robes paused, then continued, "Of course... with your current strength, it might be a bit difficult to compete with that fellow. So, what do you say? Do you have the courage to covet that great fortune?" the old man in grey robes asked with a half-smile, seemingly anticipating Zhou Yuan's reaction.

Zhou Yuan, however, closed his eyes slightly, took a deep breath, and after a moment, slowly opened them again, a captivating gleam emerging within.

Wu Huang was already ahead of him. If he were to seize the great fortune within the Sacred Vestige Land, the gap between them would likely widen even further. A single misstep could lead to falling irrevocably behind. Zhou Yuan, needing to catch up, had to seize every opportunity. While it was true that the Sacred Vestige Land would gather prodigies from various great dynasties, influential families, and powerful forces, and Zhou Yuan seemed to have no particular advantage compared to them, he had never lacked courage since the day he opened his Eight Meridians. If even the theft of his destiny and the obscurity of his Eight Meridians couldn't stop his progress, what could these so-called prodigies do?

Thus, Zhou Yuan looked at the old man in grey robes, cupped his hands, and bowed respectfully."Zhou Yuan thanks senior for your guidance."He was very fortunate to have met the old man in grey robes here, which ultimately prevented him from missing the opportunity to touch upon that great fortune.