Chapter 1417: Chaos Refining Sage Gourd

A peculiar roar seemed to echo in the ears of countless beings across Cangxuan Heaven as the Cangxuan Saint Seal collided with the Seven-Colored Glazed Gourd.

For that instant, it felt as if time and space had frozen.

However, in a flash, many regained their senses, immediately turning their gaze towards Patriarch Cangxuan. To their astonishment, they discovered that both the Cangxuan Saint Seal and the Seven-Colored Glazed Gourd in his hands had vanished simultaneously.

Sect Master Qingyang and many other powerful figures exchanged bewildered glances. They, too, had no idea what had just transpired.

Palace Master Shengyuan's brows furrowed deeply. While Sect Master Qingyang and others lacked the power to detect the subtle changes in this world, he, as a Saint, vaguely sensed an anomaly.

That anomaly sent a slight tremor through him.

Palace Master Shengyuan certainly didn't believe Patriarch Cangxuan had simply lost the Saint Seal. Instead, this bizarre maneuver by his opponent filled him with unease.

Although Patriarch Cangxuan was currently only a residual clone, his earlier words were not without reason. The struggle over a decade ago could barely be called his victory; back then, Zhou Yuan had only managed to activate the Cangxuan Saint Seal by borrowing the power of Patriarch Cangxuan's clone. Now, however, things were different.

Though Zhou Yuan had not yet achieved sainthood, the power he wielded was already not far from that of a Half-Saint. With Zhou Yuan's strength as support, coupled with the Cangxuan Saint Seal, this clone of Patriarch Cangxuan was no longer to be underestimated.

Shengyuan's keen gaze slowly swept across the surrounding void. The next moment, he finally sensed that something was amiss.

He waved his sleeve, and a mighty Saint-power surged out like a galaxy. Within this power, mountains and rivers seemed to shimmer into existence, evolving into a miniature world of their own.

Boom!

However, this Saint-power had barely surged out when it suddenly erupted in the void. Faint light appeared there, like an invisible membrane, blocking and neutralizing the Saint-power.

Shengyuan's eyes darkened slightly. He stomped his foot, and streams of Saint-power radiated from him, sweeping towards the void in all directions. Yet, none of these powers could travel far before being obstructed by an invisible membrane.

Subtle ripples spread through the void.

And if one were to follow the contours of those ripples, they would faintly discern what appeared to be a colossal gourd.

Palace Master Shengyuan naturally perceived this change. He waved his sleeve, distorting space, intending to escape into the void. But he quickly discovered that the void here was cut off by an invisible force, one that even his Saint-level power could not penetrate.

In other words, he was trapped.

Shengyuan spoke coldly, acknowledging Patriarch Cangxuan's cunning.

He had already ascended to sainthood, virtually unrivaled within Cangxuan Heaven, yet even so, he found himself thwarted by Patriarch Cangxuan.

That old man was still so troublesome, even in death.

Shengyuan internally mused that even if he were truly trapped, what could be done? Patriarch Cangxuan was merely a clone; once it fully manifested, it would quickly dissipate. He only needed to wait for it to vanish on its own, and these confinements would naturally break.

As he finished speaking, a holy lotus suddenly materialized beneath Palace Master Shengyuan's feet. The lotus swiftly expanded against the wind, transforming into a colossal holy lotus throne.

Shengyuan settled onto the holy lotus throne, which emanated boundless sacred light, providing him with immense protection.

Clearly, Palace Master Shengyuan intended to meet every change with no change, holding absolute confidence in his Saint-level power.

Zhou Yuan gazed at Palace Master Shengyuan, who sat cross-legged on the holy lotus. At this moment, Shengyuan exuded an aura of invulnerability, as if all evil and myriad techniques could not touch him. Even a thousand attacks would struggle to affect him.

Zhou Yuan slowly stated that ordinary methods would likely have no effect on Shengyuan.

Patriarch Cangxuan chuckled, urging Zhou Yuan to have a little faith. He explained it was merely the Undying Sacred Lotus Realm. Had Zhou Yuan not cultivated the Glazed Gourd, he admitted he might indeed have been helpless against Shengyuan. But Zhou Yuan had proven to be such a promising young man.

"Come," Patriarch Cangxuan continued, "I will show you my true final move... to demonstrate the immense power a Heaven Master wields when situated within their own domain."

Patriarch Cangxuan, a smile on his face, formed hand seals. His fingertips, like mountains, slowly came together.

As his hands closed, the void in the world outside Shengyuan's position began to undulate, and everyone could see the shadowy outline of a colossal gourd.

The gourd's shadow exuded an ineffable ancientness, as if from the very dawn of creation.

Zhou Yuan, meanwhile, could sense the fluctuations of both the Cangxuan Saint Seal and the Seven-Colored Glazed Gourd within that ancient gourd shadow, clearly indicating a special connection between them.

Shengyuan, seated within the holy lotus, narrowed his eyes, his gaze filled with vigilance and caution.

Patriarch Cangxuan explained that he had comprehended this technique when he had wielded the authority of Cangxuan Heaven.

With a faint smile, Patriarch Cangxuan explained to Zhou Yuan that once this technique was unleashed, even a Saint would find it hard to survive.

"And I call this technique... the Chaos Refining Saint Gourd!" he declared.

As his voice faded, four distinct halos suddenly materialized within the Chaos Gourd.

Among the four, one was a deep cyan, upon which wind seemed to howl—not ordinary wind, but as if it were the very source of wind.

"This is the Wind Ring," he stated.

There was an earthen yellow halo, brimming with immeasurable weight and solidity.

"This is the Earth Ring."

Within the azure halo, the sound of vast flowing water resonated, pulsating with abundant vitality.

"This is the Water Ring."

Upon the crimson halo, flames billowed, raging as if to incinerate the entire world.

"This is the Fire Ring."

These four ancient halos contained powers born from the dawn of chaos. They floated silently in the void, and their appearance caused not only Shengyuan's expression to change but also compelled all the experts of the heavens to stir with emotion.

Patriarch Cangxuan then added, "Zhou Yuan, my boy, this is my very last move. You must watch closely."

Patriarch Cangxuan laughed heartily, and a resounding roar echoed through every corner of Cangxuan Heaven.

"Earth, Wind, Water, Fire – Recreate Chaos!" he bellowed.

The four halos shimmered and instantly appeared around Palace Master Shengyuan, completely sealing off his upper and lower sides. The next instant, ancient powers surged forth.

That power approached the very essence of the world, deeper and more mysterious than even a Saint's might.

Especially when those four powers converged, the many Saints whose gazes were fixed on this scene seemed to catch a whiff of the desolate, primordial darkness from the very beginning of chaos.

Shengyuan's face, however, changed drastically at that moment, his eyes filling with intense fear and disbelief.

For under the erosion of the Earth, Wind, Water, and Fire powers, his holy lotus throne was, unbelievably... beginning to dissolve.