Chapter 1309: The Movement of All Heavens

For some time, the numerous powerful cultivators gathered in Heavens City had sensed an unusual atmosphere within. The most direct manifestation of this change was the sudden reduction of tasks issued by the "Soul Seeking Hall," and all external exploration missions were significantly curtailed.

Before they could even debate this, a direct decree from the Saints of Heavens City was issued: Heavens City was temporarily sealed, and no one was permitted to venture into the Chaotic Void.

This order, once released, undoubtedly stirred up a storm. All the mighty cultivators were deeply shaken. The primary reason they had come to Heavens City to fight was to search for remnants of the Ancestral Dragon and exchange them for Ancestral Dragon Pills. Now, with this restriction in place, their plans were temporarily thwarted.

Such a major event, concerning their fundamental purpose, caused an extraordinary uproar when the command was issued.

However, no matter how much commotion there was within Heavens City, no Saint emerged to explain, and for a time, people throughout the city grew increasingly uneasy.

During these days, Zhou Yuan had remained in Yaoyao's courtyard and had not ventured out. But ever since Yaoyao told him that the opportunity for his nine-inch nine-lineage breakthrough might lie in the Ancestral Dragon Soul Marrow, his heart had been anything but calm.

He was acutely aware of how difficult such a breakthrough to the absolute limit was. Throughout history, countless prodigies dared not even dream of it, and even Zhou Yuan himself wasn't very confident.

The appearance of the Ancestral Dragon Soul Marrow was undoubtedly a lifeline. Zhou Yuan felt that if he lost this opportunity, there might never be another.

Yet, despite his eagerness, Zhou Yuan understood that the secret realm was far too significant, incomparable to the Dragon Spirit Cave Heaven. Moreover, a vast number of Saint Race members had gathered there, including a considerable number of Saints, making it a convergence of powerful entities.

This scale of power was beyond what he could alter alone. If he were to eagerly attempt to infiltrate by himself, it would be akin to seeking death.

For now, he needed to wait for the Return to Origin Divine Hall to formulate a response, for the Heavens to confront the situation as a whole. Only then might he glimpse an opportunity and obtain a share.

His current task was to wait quietly, and he believed this wait would not be long.

The situation unfolded just as Zhou Yuan had predicted. Mere days later, Cang Yuan arrived at his small courtyard with the latest developments.

"Venerable Jin Luo has already arrived in Heavens City with seventeen Saints," Cang Yuan's first words upon meeting made Zhou Yuan's heart tremble, and he couldn't help but exhale slowly. He had anticipated that the Return to Origin Divine Hall would take the secret realm seriously, but he had not imagined they would attach so much importance to it as to dispatch Venerable Jin Luo, one of the Three Great Venerables, in person. And those seventeen Saints... such a lineup was utterly magnificent. Clearly, the Heavens were planning something substantial.

In the stone pavilion, Zhou Yuan, still reeling from the shock, invited Cang Yuan to sit. Beside them, Yaoyao held Tun Tun, her gaze fixed on Cang Yuan's aged face. She then took down the jade gourd from her waist and poured him a cup of wine.

Cang Yuan paused, looking at Yaoyao's calm expression with a blank stare. He had clearly not expected Yaoyao to spontaneously pour him wine. Although she said nothing, Cang Yuan could sense that the wine held many of her emotions.

During Zhou Yuan's return, Yaoyao, though still appearing aloof and cold, seemed somewhat better than before.

Zhou Yuan watched silently from the side, not speaking.

Cang Yuan slowly averted his gaze from Yaoyao's face. Looking at the cup of wine before him, even with his normally unperturbed disposition, his eyes felt slightly sore. After all, regardless of the circumstances, he had personally witnessed Yaoyao's birth from the divine stone and had raised her himself.

Despite Yaoyao's extremely special identity, Cang Yuan truly regarded her with the affection of a biological parent.

In the past two years, as Yaoyao's divinity awakened, her personality became colder, and she gradually grew somewhat distant from him. Although Cang Yuan never openly expressed anything, he was clearly quite saddened deep down.

Cang Yuan picked up the wine cup, drained it in one gulp, and revealed a hearty smile, saying softly, "Little Yaoyao, no matter what you do, Grandpa Hei will never blame you."

Yaoyao did not reply, simply bowing her head slightly and gently stroking Tun Tun's fur.

Cang Yuan was not an ordinary person; he quickly composed himself and turned his attention to Zhou Yuan. "Regarding the secret realm space you discovered, the Saint Race likely has an entry passage at another spatial coordinate. The point where those four Saint Race Nascent Source experts entered was probably just an insignificant spatial rift."

"That spatial rift was inconspicuous but connected to the secret realm. The Saint Race sent them specifically to suppress and conceal this spatial rift."

"The initial Saint Race fluctuations we detected probably emanated unintentionally from that spatial rift. However, a Saint Race Saint later used means to obscure it, which is why we didn't notice, until your accidental intrusion with your divine soul this time..."

Zhou Yuan nodded slightly and asked, "Does the Return to Origin Divine Hall have any plans?"

Cang Yuan smiled. "The 'Stone Dragon' within that secret realm space is a super strategic resource. Our Heavens absolutely cannot easily concede it, which is why even Venerable Jin Luo himself has personally come."

Zhou Yuan's expression grew serious. "Are they planning a direct confrontation with the Saint Race?"

Cang Yuan slowly replied, "The Saint Race is currently plotting for that secret realm and has a head start over the Heavens. If we also wish to contend, a collision is inevitable."

Zhou Yuan fell silent. Although they spoke simply, anyone could sense how earth-shattering such a collision would be. After all, the Heavens and the Saint Race had been in a truce for many years; despite numerous skirmishes in the past, it had not yet escalated to full-scale war.

But Zhou Yuan also understood that it wasn't the Heavens who sought war. The Saint Race's ultimate goal was to exterminate all other races. Their current quietude was merely a wait for a better opportunity. The notion of "pacifying the situation" was nothing more than self-deception.

"If a confrontation is truly imminent now, it could also be an opportunity for the Heavens..."

"The Saint Race's Saint God has not yet fully awakened, which ties up a significant portion of their top-tier power. Most of the Seven Ancient Saints are gathered at Saint Mountain, not daring to make any sudden moves. So, Venerable Jin Luo's personal involvement this time gives us the qualification to clash with the Saint Race," Cang Yuan explained.

Zhou Yuan nodded upon hearing this. Since the Saints of the Heavens had made their decision, he naturally had nothing to say. Furthermore, from his perspective, he certainly hoped the Heavens would choose to seize the secret realm, as that would give him a chance to obtain the Ancestral Dragon Soul Marrow.

"In the coming period, Venerable Jin Luo will first lead the Saints to tear open that spatial rift, then thoroughly stabilize it to form an accessible passage."

"After that, there will likely be a confrontation with the Saint Race, striving to seize the 'Stone Dragon'."

Zhou Yuan licked his lips. This scale of war would probably be the largest he had ever witnessed, especially since Venerable Jin Luo, one of the pillars of the Heavens, was personally getting involved, indicating its extremely high level.

After Cang Yuan finished speaking, he hesitated for a moment, then turned his gaze back to the silent Yaoyao. "I also brought Venerable Jin Luo's request today. He hopes that in this great battle, if a critical moment truly arises, Yaoyao can intervene slightly."

Zhou Yuan said nothing, unwilling to interfere with Yaoyao's thoughts.

Yaoyao's small hand, stroking Tun Tun's fur, paused slightly. She was silent for a moment, then finally nodded her head.

"I can act as the situation dictates," she stated, "but if there truly is Ancestral Dragon Soul Marrow in the end, a share must be reserved for Zhou Yuan, no matter what." She had given her condition.

Cang Yuan nodded in agreement, then lingered on Yaoyao for a moment before rising and departing.

After Cang Yuan left, Zhou Yuan finally frowned and said, "You don't have to do this. If I need the Ancestral Dragon Soul Marrow, I'll fight for it myself."

It wasn't chauvinism; he had accepted help before. He just didn't want Yaoyao to do something she didn't want to do.

Yaoyao took Zhou Yuan's hand and said, "I just agreed casually. Besides, perhaps I won't even be needed then."

Zhou Yuan was helpless at her explanation, so he simply held her delicate hand in return. He looked up at the chaotic void outside, his eyes deep. He knew the coming great storm would likely shake the Heavens to its core.

He wondered if the Heavens could truly snatch this prize from the jaws of the Saint Race.