Chapter 1390: Once a Junior

The grand and imposing hall was brightly lit. Long white jade tables were arranged on all four sides, and behind each table, figures exuding an aura of authority and astonishing Genesis Qi fluctuations sat silently in meditation.

Behind these four, other figures, also with considerable Genesis Qi, were seated in order. These were clearly high-level experts from the four sects.

At this moment, everyone in the hall watched with complex expressions as the young man walked leisurely into the hall.

All those present had, at various times, received news about this young man who had made a great name for himself across the heavens over the years, especially concerning the dispute in the Ancient Source Heaven a few years prior. No one had expected that the one who ultimately defeated the Saint Race's Saint Prodigy was not a prodigy from another heaven domain, but a young man who had originated from Cangxuan Heaven. This had caused many top powerhouses in Cangxuan Heaven to lament, but their surprise ended there. After all, at that time, Zhou Yuan was merely at the Heavenly Sun Stage, a level considered somewhat low by some Origin Infant and Law Domain experts.

However, no one could have anticipated the immense shock they would feel when news about Zhou Yuan resurfaced several years later. According to the latest intelligence, Zhou Yuan had emerged victorious from the Stone Dragon Secret Realm, defeating the Saint Race's strongest Law Domain expert. Now, in all the heavens, Zhou Yuan was lauded as the foremost expert below the Saints. Everyone present fully understood the immense significance of such a reputation...

Inside the hall, the three sect masters gazed at Zhou Yuan, still feeling a sense of unreality even with him standing before them. They had all been present during the great battle when Zhou Yuan left Cangxuan Heaven years ago. At that time, Zhou Yuan was merely a junior who had just entered the Divine Dwelling Stage. The only reason the three sect masters remembered his name was because this audacious junior had shattered the Saint Seal, scattering its fragments across Cangxuan Heaven and thereby initiating years of turmoil there. At that time, perhaps no one had ever imagined that this junior of the Divine Dwelling Stage would reach such a height upon his return...

A wave of emotions surged through those present, and the atmosphere in the hall grew quiet for a moment. Amidst the silence, Zhou Yuan's gaze swept across the hall. On the main seat sat Sect Master Qing Yang of the Cangxuan Sect, who seemed largely unchanged after all these years, though his Genesis Qi cultivation had clearly advanced even further than before. However, the power that once seemed unfathomable in Zhou Yuan's eyes was now completely transparent to him.

Behind Sect Master Qing Yang were several other familiar figures. These were the peak masters from the other peaks of the Cangxuan Sect: Liu Lianyi, Peak Master of Snow Lotus Peak; Ling Jun, Peak Master of Sword-Coming Peak; Gu Tianhong, Peak Master of Scarlet Cliff Peak; and Old Man White Eyebrows, Peak Master of Spirit Pattern Peak. In Zhou Yuan's eyes back then, these peak masters possessed the strength he aspired to. Now, however, he had surpassed them all.

Zhou Yuan's gaze shifted. To the left of Sect Master Qing Yang's table sat an elderly man in a hemp robe, appearing ancient and frail. Yet, beneath his aged demeanor, Zhou Yuan could sense an infinitely sharp sword intent, an intent that seemed capable of piercing the heavens. This was the Sect Master of the Ask Sword Sect, Heavenly Sword Venerable. On the other side was a beautiful woman in a palace dress, with a full and graceful figure. She was Sect Master Shan Qingzi of the Hundred Flowers Immortal Palace. The last person was a shirtless middle-aged man who appeared as simple as an old farmer, with mottled marks on his skin. However, the power emanating from his physique caused the very void to tremble slightly. He was the Sect Master of the Northern Sea Suppressing Dragon Hall, Venerable Ancient Whale.

This hall now truly gathered the most formidable powers in Cangxuan Heaven.

From the main seat, Sect Master Qing Yang observed the young man walking into the light. Compared to years past, his face had lost much of its youthful rawness, replaced by a calm serenity. His eyes were still bright, but the youthful impetuousness was gone, replaced by a profound depth that made him unreadable. Sect Master Qing Yang felt a slight daze. In just over a decade, the junior from his sect now exerted a pressure even he could feel.

However, what he felt more was a sense of gratification. After all, no matter what, Zhou Yuan had originated from the Cangxuan Sect. Furthermore, various signs indicated that Zhou Yuan was a person who valued relationships and had not disavowed his origins despite his current rise to prominence.

Sect Master Qing Yang rose and cupped his hands towards Zhou Yuan. Although Zhou Yuan was formerly a disciple of the Cangxuan Sect, his current strength was enough to place him on equal footing with the sect masters. Thus, Sect Master Qing Yang showed him full courtesy.

“Zhou Yuan, welcome back to Cangxuan Sect,” Sect Master Qing Yang said with a gentle smile.

Zhou Yuan returned the gesture, cupping his hands and smiling, “It has been many years, Sect Master. Your strength has become even more profound.”

At this moment, the other three sect masters also rose and bowed to Zhou Yuan, clasping their fists. “Lord Zhou Yuan, we express our gratitude for leading such powerful reinforcements to Cangxuan Heaven,” they said. The formidable reinforcements brought by Zhou Yuan had recently joined various battlefields, swiftly stabilizing the situation in Cangxuan Heaven. This brought both great joy and a sigh of relief to all factions in Cangxuan Heaven.

“Cangxuan Heaven is also one of the heavens, and the Saint Palace’s current actions are being driven by the Saint Race. Naturally, the heavens cannot stand idly by,” Zhou Yuan stated truthfully, not taking credit for himself. “These reinforcements were also dispatched by Ancient Venerable Jin Luo of the Omega Shrine.”

As leaders of Cangxuan Heaven's major sacred sects, Sect Master Qing Yang and the others naturally knew about the Omega Shrine, understanding it to be the supreme entity orchestrating the resistance against the Saint Race across all heavens. The four sect masters all sighed, saying with some shame, “Cangxuan Heaven has truly become a burden to the heavens.”

Sect Master Qing Yang shook his head, then smiled at Zhou Yuan and said, “Zhou Yuan, please take a seat so we can discuss.” He gestured to an empty long table beside them. Zhou Yuan nodded. His figure vanished and reappeared, now seated behind the table. The four sect masters also sat down, their expressions turning solemn. They knew that the main agenda of the day was about to begin.

“Four Sect Masters, I presume you are more aware of Cangxuan Heaven’s current situation than I am,” Zhou Yuan began, getting straight to the point without preamble. “The Saint Palace’s actions this time are undoubtedly driven by the Saint Race from behind the scenes, and they surely have a hidden agenda.”

The four sect masters all nodded, their faces grim. “Over the years, the Saint Palace’s influence has grown steadily stronger; now, no single sacred sect can contend with them alone,” Zhou Yuan continued. “Although there has been a trend of cooperation among the sects in recent years, it’s still insufficient. The sects haven’t formed a cohesive unit, and many actions are still carried out independently. This is one reason for the destruction of the Heavenly Ghost Mansion.”

Zhou Yuan’s gaze swept over them. His calm voice carried an inherent oppressive force that caused the four sect masters to feel a slight chill in their hearts. “The Saint Race’s ultimate objective remains unknown, but what is unknown is often the most dangerous,” he stated. “We cannot continue this entanglement with the Saint Palace any longer. We must cut the Gordian knot swiftly, or Cangxuan Heaven will become increasingly perilous.”

“Therefore, I propose the formation of the Cangxuan Alliance,” Zhou Yuan declared. “With the four sacred sects at its core, it will also absorb other forces in Cangxuan Heaven, consolidating all our strength to counterattack the Saint Palace, destroy it, and eliminate future threats once and for all!”

Zhou Yuan’s resolute voice echoed through the hall, startling everyone into bewildered stares. A momentary silence fell over the hall.

The idea of forming an alliance to resist the Saint Palace was not new; such a resolution had been proposed before but was ultimately shelved. The problem was that an alliance naturally required a leader to command the overall situation. However, the four sacred sects possessed similar strengths and had been embroiled in disputes for many years. Even though the threat of the Saint Palace had gradually brought them together, no single leader could genuinely command the complete trust of all the others. Therefore, such proposals had always come to nothing, until now, when Zhou Yuan brought it up again.

Zhou Yuan observed the shifting expressions on the four sect masters’ faces, his eyes slightly lowered as he calmly stated, “I know the biggest obstacle to forming an alliance. Therefore, I propose that the first leader of the Cangxuan Alliance… be me.”

Inside the hall, everyone’s eyes widened involuntarily. They stared in astonishment at the young face in the hall. The implication of his words seemed to be: *I know none of you fully trust each other. In that case, I will be the leader, because… you all must obey me?*

This fellow… was he really so arrogant?!

Sect Master Qing Yang, along with Liu Lianyi, Ling Jun, and the other peak masters behind him, also looked at Zhou Yuan in astonishment at this moment. Only now did they truly perceive the sharp edge and domineering aura emanating from the person before them. It was only at this moment that they suddenly realized: the person before them was indeed no longer the young man who had diligently cultivated in the Cangxuan Sect all those years ago. Now, he was the foremost expert below the Saints in all the heavens!