Chapter 1394: Farewell, Master Xuan

Zhou Yuan stood in a daze outside the cave dwelling. Over the years, the cave dwelling seemed to have undergone no changes; even the entrance gate was exactly as it had been when he left.

"Over the years, this Purple Origin Cave Dwelling has maintained the layout from when you left. No disciples have ever lived here, so it's been perfectly preserved for you," a chuckle came from beside him. Zhou Yuan turned his head to see that it was Shen Taiyuan.

"I should thank the Peak Master then."

Zhou Yuan nodded to Shen Taiyuan, feeling grateful. After all, this cave dwelling was more than just a former residence to him; it held memories of him and Yao Yao relying on each other.

It was also within this cave dwelling that the bond between Zhou Yuan and Yao Yao grew rapidly.

"Did Yao Yao not return with you this time?" Shen Taiyuan asked.

Zhou Yuan shook his head. "Her situation is quite special; she cannot come to Cangxuan Heaven."

Shen Taiyuan nodded. "The Sect Master originally arranged the best accommodation for you, but I thought you might prefer it here."

"Of course."

Zhou Yuan smiled, then took a deep breath and stepped inside the cave dwelling.

The cave dwelling was still as serene as it had been when they lived there. Inside, a small stream flowed, adorned with stone pavilions and small bridges. Further inside, a vibrant flower garden came into view.

Zhou Yuan gazed at the flower garden, where a hundred flowers bloomed in competition, alongside numerous spiritual plants. Yao Yao had personally planted each one of them back then.

A warm smile appeared on Zhou Yuan's lips, as if he were recalling those heartwarming scenes from the past.

He slowly walked forward, eventually finding a peach tree with luxuriant branches and leaves standing quietly, its pink petals covering the ground around it.

Zhou Yuan stood before the peach tree, gazing at its blossoms. Reflected in his eyes, however, was the graceful figure that he missed dearly.

Yao Yao's cool and exquisitely beautiful face appeared before him; every frown and smile was captivating.

Zhou Yuan extended his hand, catching a falling peach blossom. He murmured, "Yao Yao, once I pacify Cangxuan Heaven, I will definitely bring you back. Then, we can live here permanently."

Zhou Yuan stood beneath the peach tree for a long time before turning and walking out of the cave dwelling. He paused in thought for a moment in front of the entrance, then, carrying a pot of fine wine, he headed directly towards the back mountain of Saint Origin Peak.

Although Saint Origin Peak was no longer as desolate as it had been years ago, this back mountain was still considered forbidden ground, inaccessible to ordinary disciples, making it exceptionally quiet.

Zhou Yuan strolled through the ancient dense forest. Eventually, a slightly dilapidated hall appeared in the woods, its front square covered with withered yellow leaves.

Zhou Yuan walked across the square, crunching on the fallen leaves. He then saw a hunched, elderly figure on the steps in front of the hall, holding a broom and seemingly dozing, with withered leaves scattered on his clothes.

Zhou Yuan sat down on the stone steps beside the old man, then reached out and gently brushed all the fallen leaves from his clothes.

His movement startled the old man, who astonishingly opened his cloudy eyes and gazed at the man whose arrival he hadn't even noticed.

"Elder Xuan, long time no see. How have you been?" Zhou Yuan said, flashing a bright smile at the old man.

Back then in the Cangxuan Sect, if anyone had truly been a mentor to him, it was probably this old man, even more so than Shen Taiyuan and Sect Master Qing Yang.

Elder Xuan's cloudy eyes gazed at the man before him, clearly showing some astonishment. He stared at Zhou Yuan for a good while before shakily saying, "Zhou...Zhou Yuan, lad?"

"You've actually returned?!"

Zhou Yuan chuckled, "It's been over ten years; of course, I should return, right? Looking at you, it seems you haven't heard much about me."

Holding his broom, Elder Xuan said hoarsely, "After that war ended, I returned here and haven't left since. I also told Qing Yang and the others that if they were to attack the Sacred Palace, they should come for me; otherwise, they shouldn't bother me."

He shook his head. "So, for these past ten-plus years, no one has disturbed me."

His words clearly conveyed deep disappointment. Obviously, he didn't desire this quiet; he had hoped for Sect Master Qing Yang to bring him the news he longed for.

"The Sacred Palace is powerful, and Sect Master Qing Yang wouldn't dare to act rashly. After all, he bears the burden of the entire Cangxuan Sect." Zhou Yuan took out a wine bowl, filled it, and offered it to Elder Xuan with both hands.

Elder Xuan slowly took the bowl. "I know. I don't blame him, but I can't find peace. I want to avenge my master."

Zhou Yuan fell silent. He knew that Elder Xuan held Cangxuan Ancestor in extreme reverence; perhaps the meaning of his life was to avenge Cangxuan Ancestor. But he also knew that with his strength alone, he couldn't possibly pose a threat to Palace Master Saint Yuan, so he could only sit here in despair.

Zhou Yuan raised his wine bowl and clinked it against Elder Xuan's. He said, "I know what you're thinking, Elder. That's why I've come."

Elder Xuan took a sip from the wine bowl, some wine trickling down his unruly beard. He looked at Zhou Yuan with some confusion. "What good is your coming here... Saint Yuan hates you to the bone, and you still dare to return? You truly don't know the immensity of heaven and earth."

Zhou Yuan was displeased by this. He put down his wine bowl, stood up, and said to Elder Xuan, "Now, allow me to formally introduce you to the person standing before you: the Elder of Tianyuan Region in Hunyuan Heaven, the personal disciple of Grand Elder Cang Yuan, the man personally acknowledged by Ancient Sovereign Jin Luo, Zhou Xiaoyao's husband, and the widely acknowledged strongest person below the Saint realm in all-heavens... Zhou Yuan!"

Elder Xuan looked at Zhou Yuan, who had rattled off a string of baffling titles, feeling a bit bewildered. But he clearly heard the last phrase: "The strongest person below the Saint realm? You?"

Zhou Yuan looked at him with a smile.

Elder Xuan stared at Zhou Yuan, his brows gradually furrowing. His aged face also grew solemn, because at this moment, he clearly felt an extremely terrifying pressure slowly emanating from the man before him.

That pressure caused the surrounding world to grow dim.

Faintly, he saw a purple-gold sacred dragon coiling behind Zhou Yuan; its might made even heaven and earth tremble.

The wine bowl in Elder Xuan's hand trembled violently, and wine spilled out. Just as he was in a daze, Zhou Yuan retracted his aura and sat down beside him.

"If I didn't have some confidence, would you really think I came back to die?" Zhou Yuan chuckled.

Elder Xuan turned his head with some difficulty, his gaze intently scanning Zhou Yuan's face. He seemed to be confirming that the person before him was indeed the greenhorn lad from back then.

After a long look, the face before him had lost much of its youthful rawness. In its place was a profoundness that even he found somewhat unfathomable.

"Before I came here, I met with the four Sect Masters of the Saint Sects and formed the Cangxuan Alliance with them, with me as the alliance leader," Zhou Yuan said. "Next, we will integrate the power of the entire Cangxuan Heaven to destroy the Sacred Palace and kill Saint Yuan."

With every sentence he spoke, Elder Xuan's hand trembled. By the end, he could barely hold the wine bowl steady. His voice trembled, but his eyes, filled with boundless anticipation, gazed at Zhou Yuan. "Are you serious?!"

"Yes, truly. I wouldn't lie to you, Elder." Zhou Yuan nodded seriously.

Elder Xuan trembled, "You, you truly have the confidence to fight Saint Yuan?"

"As long as he hasn't truly entered the Saint realm, I won't fear him," Zhou Yuan said. "If we truly fight, no one knows who will live or die."

Elder Xuan stared at Zhou Yuan for a long while. Then, cloudy tears streamed down his deeply wrinkled face as he murmured, "My master's judgment was correct. If he could know of this day, he would surely be gratified by your achievements."

Zhou Yuan raised his wine bowl. "So, I came here to invite you, Elder. Do you still have the strength to come with me and turn that Sacred Palace upside down?"

Elder Xuan gripped his wine bowl tightly and clinked it against Zhou Yuan's with force. The air of old age was swept away, and his voice even became fierce.

"Let's finish off Saint Yuan!"