Chapter 1416: Back-up Strategies of the Relentless Ancestor

As Zhou Yuan’s voice, tinged with a faint chill, echoed, a sinister smile surfaced on Sheng Yuan’s face.

"It seems my proposal doesn't interest you," Sheng Yuan said blandly.

"If that's the case, then let's play. I'd like to see what methods you can use against me today."

His eyes were filled with murderous intent. He had originally intended to retreat for the time being, but he hadn't expected Zhou Yuan to be so overbearingly aggressive.

Did this kid really think his Saint Realm was made of mud?

Did he truly believe he could defeat him with the power of the Cangxuan Saint Seal?

Zhou Yuan, upon hearing this, merely smiled and shook his head. "It's not that I can deal with you..."

"What do you mean?" Sheng Yuan's eyes narrowed. What kind of trick was this kid playing now, trying to mystify them?

Behind them, Headmaster Qing Yang and the other powerful experts looked on with confusion. Who else in Cangxuan Heaven could pose a threat to Sheng Yuan now, besides Zhou Yuan, who wielded the Cangxuan Saint Seal?

Amidst the many perplexed gazes, Zhou Yuan simply smiled. With a hint of amusement and sentimentality in his eyes, he gazed at the ancient stone seal in his hand and chuckled, "Old Ancestor, aren't you going to make an appearance yet?"

As his voice reached Headmaster Qing Yang and the others, their expressions immediately shifted to surprise, followed by incredulous stares at the Cangxuan Saint Seal.

Could the Old Ancestor Zhou Yuan spoke of be...?

And amidst those gazes filled with shock and uncertainty, several specks of light slowly ascended from within the Cangxuan Saint Seal. Immediately, these specks condensed to form a silhouette of light.

Its appearance was precisely identical to that of Old Ancestor Cangxuan!

A tremendous uproar erupted among the Cangxuan Alliance forces, and many of Cangxuan Heaven's top experts wore expressions of utter shock. Who could have imagined that the former Lord of Cangxuan Heaven could still make an appearance!

"Master!" Headmaster Qing Yang, Liu Lianyi, and the other high-ranking members of the Cangxuan Alliance were all overjoyed and emotional.

"Master!" Elder Xuan, too, was overcome with tears.

"Cangxuan?!"

Sheng Yuan was momentarily stunned, then his expression turned grim.

Old Ancestor Cangxuan, who instantly became the focal point upon his appearance, surveyed his surroundings with a sigh. "I never expected it would come to this point," he remarked.

"Old Ancestor, you've certainly hidden yourself well. If it weren't for my current abilities, I probably wouldn't have discovered this maneuver you left behind," Zhou Yuan said teasingly, observing Old Ancestor Cangxuan's light form.

Old Ancestor Cangxuan also scrutinized Zhou Yuan, tutting, "My foresight was indeed sharp. I knew even back then that you, young man, were no ordinary talent."

"Cangxuan, didn't you utterly dissipate? How can there still be a remnant clone?!" Palace Master Sheng Yuan demanded, his voice filled with gloom.

In the great battle over a decade ago, he had clearly eradicated Cangxuan's last clone, yet judging by the present situation, he evidently hadn't done a thorough job.

Moreover, when he had previously acquired another portion of the Cangxuan Saint Seal, he had meticulously inspected it and found no hidden tricks left by Old Ancestor Cangxuan.

Old Ancestor Cangxuan looked at Palace Master Sheng Yuan and sighed, "Sheng Yuan... I didn't expect you truly achieved Sainthood."

"My remnant clones were indeed almost completely eradicated. This is truly the very last one. I didn't hide this particular clone within the Cangxuan Saint Seal, because I knew that if you had managed to circumvent all my previous maneuvers, then any tricks on the Saint Seal itself would have been futile."

"Therefore, I hid this final clone within the power of Cangxuan Heaven's authority. Only when someone truly wields this power would they potentially sense the existence of this clone."

"My original intention was that if the worst-case scenario came to pass—if you gained control of the Cangxuan Saint Seal and attempted to use its authoritative power to control Cangxuan Heaven—this clone of mine could then finally trigger the power of authority to backlash against you. Hehe, isn't this contingency of mine quite unexpected?"

Old Ancestor Cangxuan spoke with visible delight, clearly proud of the numerous hidden maneuvers he had orchestrated.

The numerous experts of the Cangxuan Alliance exchanged glances, then broke out in cold sweat. It was truly hard to believe that Old Ancestor Cangxuan was, in fact, such an old trickster.

Sheng Yuan's face twitched slightly, his eyes darkening. Just how many contingencies had this scoundrel Cangxuan left behind? Such maneuvers were beyond the capabilities of even ordinary Saints; Cangxuan's ability to achieve them stemmed primarily from his former identity as the Lord of Cangxuan Heaven.

"But I swear, this is absolutely the very last trick," Old Ancestor Cangxuan declared earnestly.

Sheng Yuan remained expressionless, neither confirming nor denying, but it was evident he had been somewhat traumatized. Even if he ultimately won this battle today, he would undoubtedly exercise ten times more caution when attempting to control the Cangxuan Saint Seal in the future.

In a way, this was truly unsettling for one's state of mind.

Sheng Yuan took a deep breath, composing himself. "Cangxuan, stop playing games," he said blandly. "You are merely a remnant clone now. I was capable of erasing your clones even when I was but a Half-Saint, let alone now that I have advanced to the Saint Realm."

"Your methods inflict no substantial harm upon me; they are merely an annoyance."

"It's quite pathetic that the dignified former Lord of Cangxuan Heaven is now reduced to employing such childish, roguish tactics."

Hearing this, Zhou Yuan chuckled, "Old Ancestor, you're being underestimated."

Old Ancestor Cangxuan shot him a helpless glare, then turned to Sheng Yuan with a smile. "Normally, I truly can't do anything to you now. However, unlike the battle over a decade ago, this young man is no longer the mere Divine Palace Realm 'ant' he once was."

Sheng Yuan sneered, but deep within his eyes, a flicker of wariness gradually emerged.

Old Ancestor Cangxuan looked at Zhou Yuan and sighed, "Over a decade ago, it was you who needed to borrow my strength. Now, however, it is I who must borrow yours."

Zhou Yuan smiled faintly. "My pleasure," he replied.

Old Ancestor Cangxuan nodded, extended his palm, and the Cangxuan Saint Seal slowly settled into his grasp.

"One more thing is needed."

Old Ancestor Cangxuan surveyed Zhou Yuan, then extended his palm, seemingly reaching directly into Zhou Yuan's body. When he withdrew his hand, a vibrant, multicolored glazed gourd materialized in his palm.

This multicolored glazed gourd was precisely the result of Zhou Yuan's cultivation after integrating the Seven Cangxuan Arts!

Old Ancestor Cangxuan gazed at the familiar multicolored glazed gourd with a nostalgic air, his eyes filled with profound contentment. "I divided this technique into the Seven Cangxuan Arts back then, yet none of those unproductive disciples ever managed to cultivate it again."

"Zhou Yuan, you are the finest inheritor of my legacy. In the future, you will undoubtedly far surpass me."

Upon hearing this, Headmaster Qing Yang, Liu Lianyi, and the others behind them all wore expressions of awkwardness and shame.

Holding the Cangxuan Saint Seal in one hand and the multicolored glazed gourd in the other, Old Ancestor Cangxuan then smiled at Zhou Yuan. "Over a decade ago, when we allied, this fellow caused one of my clones to dissipate and another to flee far away, ultimately forcing us to shatter the Cangxuan Saint Seal. What do you suppose the outcome will be this time?"

Zhou Yuan smiled calmly. "There will be only one outcome," he stated. "From this day forward, Cangxuan Heaven will no longer know the name of Sheng Yuan."

Old Ancestor Cangxuan gazed at Zhou Yuan, whose calm smile and composed demeanor exuded an aura of profound strength and stability. He couldn't help but feel a momentary sense of bewilderment; that once-naïve youth was now, in fact, a formidable hero of all heavens.

Old Ancestor Cangxuan also smiled, a nostalgic expression on his face, and nodded vigorously.

"Precisely. This cancer of Cangxuan Heaven must be eradicated today."

The moment his voice fell, the Cangxuan Saint Seal and the multicolored glazed gourd in his hands sharply collided.