Chapter 1378: Saint Demon Army

The chilling killing intent that emanated from Zhou Yuan’s body caused the temperature of this world to plummet, with thin frost even spreading across the green foliage in the mountains and forests.

Xiao Tianxuan was also startled by the sudden eruption of Zhou Yuan’s killing intent. Despite not being directed at him, its intensity still sent a bone-chilling cold through him, giving rise to an boundless dread.

“Senior Brother Zhou Yuan, there’s no need to worry,” Xiao Tianxuan quickly offered reassurance. “Thanks to the Cangxuan Sect’s efforts over the years, the Great Zhou Royal City is now impregnable. Even if the Sacred Palace dispatches a Sacred Demon Army, they would struggle to breach it quickly.”

Zhou Yuan’s eyes flickered slightly, and the stern killing intent slowly receded. He asked, “What has happened over these years?”

“Haha, Your Highness Zhou Yuan has been away for many years, so naturally you wouldn’t know that the Great Zhou Dynasty is now considered the foremost great dynasty on our Boundless Continent,” said Xiao Tianluo, who was standing nearby, with a warm smile. “Many other dynasties have submitted to it, with hundreds of them paying tribute annually.”

“The Great Zhou Dynasty enjoys such prestige for two reasons: its strong dynastic destiny, and the protection provided by the Cangxuan Sect over the years. It is said that Sect Master Qing Yang of the Cangxuan Sect assigned Peak Master Shen Taiyuan of Saint Genesis Peak to continuously guard the Great Zhou Royal City, using the strength of his entire peak to deter any troublemakers from all directions.”

Zhou Yuan was slightly stunned. When he left Cangxuan Heaven back then, he had indeed requested Sect Master Qing Yang to look after his father and mother. After all, he had offended the Sacred Palace, and with their power, even a slight effort could annihilate a small dynasty.

However, he hadn't expected Sect Master Qing Yang to take this matter so seriously, practically deploying the entire Saint Genesis Peak's strength to guard the Great Zhou Dynasty. With the Cangxuan Sect as its backing, the Great Zhou Dynasty's influence naturally grew stronger over the years. Furthermore, since the Boundless Continent isn't considered a core continent within Cangxuan Heaven, it wasn't surprising for the Great Zhou Dynasty to become the foremost dynasty there.

“Over the past few years, Cangxuan Heaven has been in extreme chaos due to the fragments of the Sacred Seal,” Xiao Tianxuan explained. “The Great Zhou Dynasty also previously experienced powerful figures from other continental forces coming to search for fragments, causing unrest. Therefore, the Sect Master increased the intensity of the guard, stating that since you entrusted the Great Zhou Dynasty to the Cangxuan Sect before you left, they couldn't possibly let you down.”

A warm feeling emerged in Zhou Yuan’s heart. He nodded gently and said, “The Sect Master is truly considerate.”

He had to accept this favor.

“Previously, the Sacred Palace wasn't particularly concerned with the Great Zhou Dynasty because they were busy searching for Sacred Seal fragments, so guarding it wasn't overly difficult,” Xiao Tianxuan said with a bitter smile. “However, in the past six months or so, the Sacred Palace’s strength has surged dramatically, even annihilating the Heavenly Ghost Sect overnight. This forced the other four great Sacred Sects to fully unite, but even then, the Sacred Palace is still gradually gaining the upper hand. And this is even without Saint Yuan personally making a move.”

“Why has the Sacred Palace’s strength surged so rapidly in such a short time?” Zhou Yuan asked, puzzled.

“Because of the Sacred Demon Army!” Xiao Tianxuan said gravely.

“The Sacred Demon Army? Those people from before?”

Xiao Tianxuan explained, “They were merely a small squad within the Sacred Demon Army, not true Sacred Demon Warriors. The so-called Sacred Demon Army is an army created by the Saint Race over the past six months. It is said that most of its members are powerful individuals from various factions gathered by the Sacred Palace from across Cangxuan Heaven. Currently, anyone with discerning eyes can see that the Sacred Palace holds immense power in Cangxuan Heaven, so there’s no shortage of those who choose to align with them.”

“The Sacred Palace is colluding with the Saint Race, yet they still gain popular support?” Zhou Yuan frowned.

“This only shows that the Sacred Palace is adept at manipulating people’s minds,” Xiao Tianxuan said helplessly. “Even though our various great Sacred Sects have continuously spread the truth, we are instead accused of being jealous and slandering them. Not everyone in this world can discern right from wrong.”

“Those rogue cultivators from Cangxuan Sect, although not weak, shouldn't be capable of annihilating the Heavenly Ghost Sect, right?” Zhou Yuan asked.

“They certainly couldn’t do it alone. But it’s said that the Sacred Palace possesses a Divine Blood Altar, personally overseen by Palace Master Saint Yuan. Anyone wishing to become a Sacred Demon Warrior must enter the altar to receive a baptism. After this baptism, their strength will surge dramatically; there are even powerful individuals who have used the Divine Blood Altar to break through to the Nascent Source and Law Domain stages!”

“It is precisely by relying on the baptism of that Divine Blood Altar that the Sacred Palace’s strength is now unprecedentedly formidable,” Xiao Tianxuan said with a wary expression. “On the Saint Continent, even the five great Sacred Sects, when united, are gradually falling into a disadvantage.”

“Divine Blood Altar?” Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly. There’s absolutely no baptism in this world that can cause a massive surge in strength or even allow people to enter the Law Domain stage in large numbers. Therefore, even though he hadn't personally seen those baptized Sacred Demon Warriors, he could imagine that such a method must have significant side effects.

But even if there were side effects, that would be a problem for later. Currently, the Sacred Palace’s power is sufficient to sweep through all of Cangxuan Heaven. Moreover, there’s also Palace Master Saint Yuan, who possesses semi-saint strength...

And that Divine Blood Altar... it must have the Saint Race's backing.

Over the past six months, the Saint Race had been unusually quiet. Now it seemed they hadn't given up, but had instead shifted their schemes to Cangxuan Heaven.

“Actually, what the four great Sacred Sects are most worried about now is Palace Master Saint Yuan. It’s said that his injuries have now fully healed, and his strength has advanced even further than before, bringing him closer to the Saint stage...”

Xiao Tianxuan sighed, then looked at Zhou Yuan with some hope. “The Heavens must have noticed the situation in Cangxuan Heaven, right? Are there any Saints willing to offer assistance?”

At his level, he clearly didn't know about the existence of the Return to Ruin Divine Hall. But in his view, Cangxuan Heaven ultimately belonged to the Heavens, so if it were truly thrown into chaos by the Sacred Palace, it shouldn't be something the other Heavens would welcome.

“The situation in Cangxuan Heaven is more serious than you imagine. The Primordial Saint Punishing Array that envelops Cangxuan Heaven has been tampered with and now completely seals it off. This prevents any external Saints from entering. The fact that we were able to be sent in this time was only possible because Ancient Venerable Jin Luo personally made a move—and he is a Three-Lotus Saint.”

“And this, too, should be a scheme of the Saint Race,” Zhou Yuan said, his expression slightly grim.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Tianxuan’s face turned several shades paler. Clearly, he hadn't expected such a high-level game of stratagem behind the changes in Cangxuan Heaven.

“There’s no need to worry. My return this time is precisely to settle old scores with Palace Master Saint Yuan.”

Zhou Yuan’s face showed little apprehension, and his voice was calm as he said, “I won’t let him cause chaos in Cangxuan Heaven.”

Xiao Tianxuan stared blankly at Zhou Yuan. If anyone else had said such words, he would likely have found it laughable. But in Zhou Yuan’s calm remarks, he could sense an immense spirit and power, as if the person before him truly had the ability to contend with the most peak existence in Cangxuan Heaven...

Could it be that after more than ten years, the young man who was forced to leave Cangxuan Heaven has already reached such a level?

“Let’s not talk any further for now. I need to go to the Great Zhou Royal City first and eliminate all those hidden dangers. If you have nothing else to do, you can come along.”

Zhou Yuan smiled at Xiao Tianxuan, then said no more. His figure moved, gradually dissolving into a ray of sunlight. When he reappeared, he was already a thousand miles away.

High in the sky, that mysterious and powerful team also moved with the wind, transforming into streaks of light that followed, their aura grand and imposing.

“Father, you first take the others back to tidy up Saint Remains City.”

Xiao Tianxuan said to Xiao Tianluo, then looked with fervent eyes in the direction Zhou Yuan and his group had headed. His figure moved, and he shot up into the sky.

He understood that when Zhou Yuan appeared with this mysterious team, all of Cangxuan Heaven would be shaken.

He certainly didn't want to miss this grand spectacle of a king's return.