Chapter 1374: Returning to Cangxuan

The next day, when Zhou Yuan saw the large contingent of people chosen for him by Ancient Venerable Jin Luo in All-Heavens City, he was not surprised to find some familiar figures at the front.

The group was led by Xi Jing, followed by Zhao Mu Shen, Wu Yao, and Su Youwei. Behind them, there were about a hundred more figures.

Though not a large number, dozens of them had Genesis Qi fluctuations reaching the Law Domain stage, while the rest were all at the peak of the Divine Dwelling stage.

This lineup, not to mention in Cangxuan Heaven, but even in Hunyuan Heaven, would be enough to annihilate a major region if no Saint intervened.

“I heard you’re returning home, junior brother. I’m quite interested in seeing Cangxuan Heaven,” Xi Jing said. Her wine-red short hair fluttered lightly, and her tall, slender figure exuded a heroic and refreshing aura, so much so that even some women in the team couldn't help but cast admiring glances at her.

Zhao Mu Shen's eyes were indifferent as he said, “I also want to see what makes that place so different that it could produce a monster like you.”

Su Youwei, on the other hand, softly said, “I want to revisit that small courtyard in Great Zhou City.”

Wu Yao, however, was quite silent. For her, Cangxuan Heaven held mostly unpleasant memories, and she wasn't particularly keen on setting foot there. But after Su Youwei persuaded her, she surprisingly agreed without much resistance, though the reason remained unclear.

Zhou Yuan smiled at them and said, “This trip to Cangxuan Heaven is a rescue mission, so I’ll have to trouble all of you when the time comes.”

Upon hearing this, the nearly hundred figures behind them promptly responded politely. These individuals, either at the Law Domain stage or peak Divine Dwelling, were influential figures anywhere and naturally possessed a proud demeanor. However, facing Zhou Yuan now, they dared not show the slightest disrespect.

Their gazes toward Zhou Yuan were filled with intense reverence.

In just half a year, Zhou Yuan’s reputation as the number one cultivator below the Saint stage had become widely known.

Previously, Law Domain experts might have subtly asserted their standing when led by Zhou Yuan, but now, they didn't dare entertain such thoughts at all.

As Zhou Yuan met with the group, Ancient Venerable Jin Luo emerged from the void. He looked at everyone and said, “Your specific mission has been conveyed to you previously. On this journey to Cangxuan Heaven, everything will be led by Zhou Yuan.”

“Yes!” the many experts respectfully replied.

Ancient Venerable Jin Luo didn't waste any more words, turning to Zhou Yuan, “If you are ready, shall we depart?”

Zhou Yuan turned his head and looked into the distance. On a nearby pavilion, a graceful figure stood, her clear, ethereal eyes gazing their way. It was Yao Yao.

In her arms, she held the lazy Tun Tun. For this trip to Cangxuan Heaven, Zhou Yuan had decided not to bring the creature, instead letting it stay with Yao Yao to keep her from being lonely.

Their eyes met, filled with tender affection.

Zhou Yuan gave Yao Yao a brilliant smile, then forcibly suppressed his reluctance and said to Ancient Venerable Jin Luo, “Let’s depart!”

Ancient Venerable Jin Luo nodded, lightly tapping his staff on the ground.

Immediately, the space above All-Heavens City split open. Violent spatial energy roared like an enraged dragon, but it posed no threat to an Ancient Venerable. In just a short while, Ancient Venerable Jin Luo pinpointed the location of Cangxuan Heaven.

Spatial energy surged, forming a spatial portal.

Without needing a reminder from Ancient Venerable Jin Luo, Zhou Yuan’s figure was already soaring skyward, sweeping across the heavens like a great roc, directly entering the spatial portal.

Behind him, nearly a hundred figures followed closely.

After more than ten breaths, the entire team had disappeared into the spatial portal, which then gradually dissipated, returning to nothingness.

Ancient Venerable Jin Luo stood in the void. He gave a slight nod in Yao Yao’s direction, then his figure vanished like an illusion.

Yao Yao, however, paid no mind to Ancient Venerable Jin Luo's departure. Her gaze remained fixed on the spot where Zhou Yuan had vanished. With a jade-like hand, she gently stroked Tun Tun’s soft fur in her arms, then lifted her eyes to look into the depths of the chaotic void.

Beneath her slanted bangs, her ancient divine pupils, as deep as the starry sky, seemed to flash with a peculiar light.

“Holy God…”

“Are you about to awaken? Your loathsome aura is starting to appear in this world…”

Cangxuan Heaven.

Above the mountains, the void suddenly churned violently. Space twisted, forming a vortex accompanied by lightning and thunder.

The next instant, a stream of light descended from the sky and crashed down with a thundering impact. The ground shook, creating a massive pit directly within the mountain range.

Zhou Yuan stood in the large pit, scanning his surroundings while simultaneously sensing the world around him.

“The Genesis Qi here is indeed a level weaker than in Hunyuan Heaven, and it contains a sense of chaos and disorder. This must be Cangxuan Heaven; we weren’t transported to the wrong place. Ancient Venerable Jin Luo truly lives up to his name as a Three Lotus Grandmaster.”

Zhou Yuan smiled. When he was in Cangxuan Heaven previously, he naturally couldn't perceive the differences in the world's Genesis Qi. But now, as the foremost cultivator below the Saint stage in all-heavens, and having also visited Hunyuan Heaven and Myriad Beasts Heaven, this single sensation was enough for him to understand the distinction between Cangxuan Heaven and other heaven domains.

That chaos and disorder were likely due to the absence of a Heaven Master to control and regulate it.

Zhou Yuan took a deep breath, then slowly spread his arms, a nostalgic smile appearing on his face. “Cangxuan Heaven, I, Zhou Yuan, have returned.”

After performing for no one, he unhurriedly took out a golden bell. With a gentle shake, a sound wave imperceptible to ordinary people spread through the void. This was the signal to contact the rest of the main group; they also had golden bells that would guide them to this location.

After activating the golden bell, Zhou Yuan put it away. With his hands clasped behind his back, his figure slowly ascended, reaching a cloud-shrouded mountain peak.

He waved his sleeve, and the swirling clouds receded entirely.

The terrain ahead then appeared before his eyes.

“Oh?”

However, when the terrain ahead became visible, Zhou Yuan suddenly uttered a soft exclamation, paused for a moment, and then couldn't help but chuckle slightly, his eyes filled with nostalgia and reminiscence.

He realized that his landing spot was not unfamiliar.

It was precisely the Sacred Remains Domain, where the young boy from the Great Zhou Dynasty had ventured out to and eventually arrived. It was here that he obtained the mark left by Ancestor Cang Xuan, and under the Ancestor's guidance, he went to the Cangxuan Sect, thus embarking on his path to peak cultivation.

“Ancestor Cang Xuan, it’s been a long time…”

Zhou Yuan murmured softly. Immediately, three incense sticks appeared in his hand, igniting on their own. Holding the incense, he bowed respectfully toward the Sacred Remains Domain in the distance.

“It was I who shattered the Cangxuan Saint Seal back then, leaving Cangxuan Heaven in chaos until now. But please rest assured, this time, I will thoroughly cleanse those parasites of Cangxuan Heaven for you.”

On the mountaintop, Zhou Yuan’s calm voice slowly spread. The immense killing intent contained within it seemed to silence the surrounding mountains into a deathly stillness.

After bowing with the incense, Zhou Yuan exhaled lightly. Immediately, his expression changed, and he turned his head to look northwest.

In that direction, a large number of Genesis Qi fluctuations were emerging.