Chapter 1376: People Are Many

In the forest, a ray of sunlight pierced through the dense foliage, casting a spotlight on the smiling young man standing under a large tree. This scene seemed strikingly out of place amidst the chaotic and brutal events unfolding in the distance.

Yet, the young man possessed an undeniable aura. Though he stood still, an unspoken power emanated from him, as if he had become the central figure of this world.

Xiao Tianxuan gazed at the figure, his expression bewildered. The face seemed familiar, yet he couldn't recall who it was. Then, as he replayed the figure's jesting remark in his mind, a flash of realization jolted him. His body trembled as he stared incredulously at the young man: "You... you're Zhou Yuan?!"

Although information from the Heavens was somewhat restricted within Cangxuan Heaven, Xiao Tianxuan, now an elder of the Cangxuan Sect, naturally had access to some details. Among these, the most shocking and pride-inducing news for the Cangxuan Sect in recent years concerned the young man who had left them to travel to other heaven domains: Zhou Yuan.

Of course, his reputation was primarily known due to the Great Ancient Heaven dispute, in which elite experts from various factions of Cangxuan Heaven had participated. They knew Zhou Yuan had defeated a Saint Clan's Saint Proud, earning immense glory. This filled the Cangxuan Sect disciples with pride. After all, Cangxuan Heaven was at the bottom of the Heavens, a fact even its own people couldn't deny, as its strength truly lagged far behind other heaven domains.

Now, Zhou Yuan, a native of Cangxuan Heaven, had led the Heavens to victory against the Saint Clan in the Great Ancient Heaven. This brought immense honor to everyone in the Cangxuan Sect, and Xiao Tianxuan was no exception.

Although the two had some past grievances many years ago, a decade and more had passed. One was now renowned throughout the Heavens, while the other was an elder within the sect. Their youthful follies had long since faded. Xiao Tianxuan, in particular, would often intentionally bring up this past as a unique topic of conversation when speaking with newly inducted disciples. And indeed, when Xiao Tianxuan had previously said someone would return to deal with the Sacred Palace, he had been referring to Zhou Yuan.

However, he never imagined that the very person he spoke of would appear directly before him moments after he said it, filling him with extreme shock and disbelief.

"You... how are you here?!" Xiao Tianxuan's voice faltered, betraying the profound shock he felt.

"Just as you said, I came back to resolve some trouble," Zhou Yuan replied with a smile.

At this moment, the Sacred Palace contingent also regained their senses, and their grim gazes immediately fell upon him. The leading late-stage Heavenly Sun Realm expert stared coldly at Zhou Yuan. However, he didn't immediately attack. An instinct told him that this young man, who outwardly displayed no trace of Genesis Qi fluctuations, exuded an unquantifiable sense of danger.

"Friend, the Sacred Palace is conducting business here. We hope you don't interfere rashly and bring trouble upon yourself," the Heavenly Sun Realm expert said slowly.

Zhou Yuan raised his eyes, stating indifferently, "All the scum of the Sacred Palace deserve to die."

Upon hearing this, the Sacred Palace experts' expressions drastically changed. Their eyes, filled with dread, fixed on Zhou Yuan. In recent years, the Sacred Palace had grown increasingly powerful, even annihilating the Heavenly Ghost Sect, one of the Six Sacred Sects, not long ago. Now, throughout Cangxuan Heaven, any mention of the Sacred Palace evoked fear, yet this young man dared to be so arrogant?!

The leading late-stage Heavenly Sun Realm expert's eyes also grew cold. This person truly didn't know his place. He had heard Xiao Tianxuan mention the name 'Zhou Yuan' earlier, but it was utterly unfamiliar and made no impression. While other factions in Cangxuan Heaven might spread news of Zhou Yuan's achievements, the Sacred Palace, having a deep-seated enmity with him, naturally suppressed such information. Moreover, with over a decade gone by, hardly anyone within the Sacred Palace remembered the name that once caused them trouble.

So, he raised his palm, and several other late-stage Heavenly Sun Realm Sacred Palace experts appeared in the sky around Zhou Yuan, completely cutting off any escape.

"Although I don't know your background, since you dare to obstruct the Sacred Palace's affairs, no one in Cangxuan Heaven can save you. Perhaps you have some ability, but do you have as many people as us?!"

As his voice faded, all the Sacred Palace experts present unleashed their astonishing Genesis Qi, their eyes glinting with murderous intent as they locked onto Zhou Yuan, as if to tear him to shreds. The violent Genesis Qi roared, causing the entire forest to tremble.

The refugees from Saint Remains City also shivered in fright. Xiao Tianluo murmured, "Why isn't that kid running? Isn't he seeking death..."

The only person who remained relatively calm in the field was Xiao Tianxuan. After all, he knew some information about Zhou Yuan, albeit from years ago. Even then, Zhou Yuan could defeat the Saint Proud of the Saint Clan, so what about now?

So, when he heard Xiao Tianluo's voice, he couldn't help but chuckle slightly: "Old man, don't you remember him?"

Xiao Tianluo paused, carefully scrutinizing Zhou Yuan. "He looks vaguely familiar, and the name sounds a bit familiar too..."

Cangxuan Heaven was inherently isolated, and Saint Remains City was merely a small corner within it. After their encounter in Saint Remains City years ago, Xiao Tianluo had never seen Zhou Yuan again, so he had naturally forgotten the young man over time.

"He's the one who took first place in the Saint Remains Region all those years ago and later entered the Cangxuan Sect... Back then, I even had some grievances with him, and it was you who persuaded me to let go of my prejudices and not make an enemy of him," Xiao Tianxuan explained.

Xiao Tianluo was stunned. His long-dormant memories seemed to finally resurface, and his eyes widened. "He's the young man who won first place in the Saint Remains Region back then?!"

"Back then, he was just a young boy, full of spirit and incredibly sharp..."

Xiao Tianluo frowned. "But I haven't heard you mention him much these past years, have I? Is he also in the Cangxuan Sect?"

Xiao Tianxuan sighed. "Now, let alone a mere Cangxuan Sect, even Cangxuan Heaven itself is probably too small for him..."

Xiao Tianluo's mouth hung open. To him, the Cangmang Continent was already vast, and the Sacred Sects like Cangxuan Sect were enormous entities. And beyond Cangxuan Heaven? That was already beyond the scope of his imagination. So, for a moment, he was skeptical. Had this young man, who was roughly his son's age, truly reached such a level? He certainly couldn't tell.

While they were talking, the Sacred Palace experts were gradually closing in on Zhou Yuan. It was clear they were being quite cautious, slowly trying to gauge Zhou Yuan's depth and weaknesses. Zhou Yuan, however, appeared rather nonchalant. He finished off the sour apricot in two bites. He clearly had no interest in the people before him, merely remarking with a trace of amusement, "Though you're just scum in my eyes, I think you might be mistaken about one thing..."

"What do you mean?" the Sacred Palace Heavenly Sun Realm expert sneered.

Zhou Yuan stretched lazily, then raised his gaze and stated blandly, "I mean... I might have more people than you."

The moment his words fell, the void of this world suddenly twisted violently. Spatial vortexes appeared from all directions, and then, one after another, figures stepped out of these vortexes, watched in stunned silence by Xiao Tianxuan, Xiao Tianluo, and others below. Each of these figures radiated a monstrous aura, their Genesis Qi fluctuations surging like a vast ocean.

Under such Genesis Qi pressure, even the Sacred Palace's several late-stage Heavenly Sun Realm experts felt their bodies suppressed as if by stars, unable to even move a finger.

Bang! Bang!

While these late-stage Heavenly Sun Realm experts could barely endure, the Sacred Palace members behind them were instantly crushed and exploded by the Genesis Qi pressure, which roared like enraged dragons, resembling blood-red fireworks blooming in the sky.

The Sacred Palace's late-stage Heavenly Sun Realm experts remained shocked for a long while, their teeth chattering. Their eyes were filled with intense fear. There were roughly a hundred figures that had appeared in the void, and what was most terrifying was that the Genesis Qi pressure emanating from every single one of them vastly surpassed their own. Some of them even gave off a profound, unfathomable aura, like an abyss. They had only ever felt this kind of power from a few top experts within the Sacred Palace. That was... Law Domain experts!

In other words, all hundred or so people standing before them were Genesis Infant Realm and Law Domain Realm cultivators! This lineup was terrifying enough to make one tremble! It was enough to overturn all of Cangxuan Heaven!

Their gazes, finally trembling, fell upon the smiling young man under the large tree. Their eyes were filled with profound fear and despair. If this lineup was so terrifying, how utterly terrifying was the young man who could effortlessly summon these peak experts?!

When had a dragon of this caliber appeared in Cangxuan Heaven?!