Chapter 1420: Inheriting the Lord

"To become the new Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven..." Old Ancestor Cangxuan's words evidently sent a massive shockwave through everyone present. Even the seasoned Sect Master Qingyang couldn't help but swallow hard.

As for the other Heavenly Domain experts from Cangxuan Heaven, a fervent glint involuntarily appeared in their eyes.

After all, everyone understood what this implied: it signified the supreme authority of Cangxuan Heaven. Ascending to this position meant becoming one of the most apex existences across all heavens.

Even ordinary Saints would show them immense deference.

Faced with the power represented by such authority, no one present could remain completely calm. Fortunately, they didn't lose their minds, because they understood... they weren't qualified.

Hadn't Old Ancestor Cangxuan been looking only at Zhou Yuan when he spoke? Clearly, this proposal was directed at him.

However, they didn't feel resentful about this. After all, when it came to strength and prestige in Cangxuan Heaven, Zhou Yuan was indeed the undisputed first choice.

Envious gazes were cast towards Zhou Yuan.

Zhou Yuan himself was also momentarily stunned, then somewhat curiously remarked, "To wield the Cangxuan Sacred Seal, one must at least enter the Saint stage. I'm not qualified either."

Old Ancestor Cangxuan nodded slightly and said, "Under normal circumstances, that would indeed be true. However, your strength is no weaker than a half-Saint's, making you barely qualified in a certain sense. Moreover, Cangxuan Heaven is currently facing a great calamity, with countless beings falling into despair. Their will to survive and their prayers will emanate, and the Cangxuan Sacred Seal will perceive this. At such a time, if there is someone capable of averting this catastrophe, the difficulty of inheriting the Cangxuan Sacred Seal will be somewhat reduced."

"This is similar to how you previously accelerated the fusion of the Cangxuan Sacred Seal by using the prayers of countless beings in Cangxuan Heaven, eventually leading it to proactively hand over some control to you."

Zhou Yuan had a faint realization.

"Zhou Yuan, you are exceptional, the most astonishingly brilliant person I have met in all these years. Even I find it difficult to gauge your future achievements. Precisely because of this, I have some hesitation about whether you should become the Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven."

Old Ancestor Cangxuan gave a bitter smile and said, "I believe you're also aware of some drawbacks concerning the Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven, aren't you?"

Zhou Yuan fell silent for a moment, then said, "Is it that Cangxuan Heaven was once corrupted by the Saint Race, leading this domain to have defects, and that a Heaven Master wielding the Cangxuan Sacred Seal would find it extremely difficult to advance further on the path of a Saint?"

Old Ancestor Cangxuan slowly nodded, his voice somewhat heavy. "Before I took control of the Cangxuan Sacred Seal, other Saints did emerge within Cangxuan Heaven. However, they ultimately chose not to wield the Sacred Seal and protect Cangxuan Heaven, because doing so would make it difficult for them to make further progress in the future."

"I don't blame their choice. After all, no one wishes to remain stagnant after reaching Sainthood... Even I, back then, had to make an enormous decision before choosing to inherit it."

"Zhou Yuan, originally, I didn't want you to inherit the position of Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven because I felt it would hinder your progress, but..."

Old Ancestor Cangxuan's expression was somewhat bitter. He could sense the cries of despair from the beings across this world. At this moment, someone absolutely had to step forward and save this domain.

Sect Master Qingyang and the others standing by also fell silent. In truth, if this choice had fallen upon them, they might not have needed much consideration, as reaching the Saint stage was already their lifelong pursuit. But clearly, Zhou Yuan's future achievements would surpass theirs.

For him, was this flawed position of Cangxuan Heaven Master truly an advantageous climb?

Zhou Yuan was momentarily dazed; he had genuinely never considered this question before.

He lifted his gaze, his vision piercing through space, and saw where the blood-red pillars of light spread. He empathized deeply with the desperate wails and cries of the beings there.

"Cangxuan Heaven is where I was born," Zhou Yuan said slowly. "It holds the Great Zhou Dynasty, the Cangxuan Sect—places I cannot abandon—and friends I cannot part with. I will not let anyone destroy this place. If it weren't for that, why would I have returned?"

Zhou Yuan looked at Old Ancestor Cangxuan and smiled, "So, Old Ancestor, if it truly requires me to inherit the Heaven Master position to save Cangxuan Heaven, then it is naturally my duty."

"Of course, this isn't me sacrificing my individual self for the greater good; rather, my ambition is even grander. If Cangxuan Heaven has flaws, then I will find a way to mend them. At that point, which Saint among all the heavens wouldn't envy me, the Heaven Master of a complete domain?"

Old Ancestor Cangxuan was momentarily stunned. He said, "The difficulty of that is not small; even I couldn't succeed."

Zhou Yuan gave a dry cough and tactfully said, "Just because you couldn't succeed, Old Ancestor, doesn't necessarily mean I will fail."

Sect Master Qingyang and the others had strange expressions, resisting the urge to exclaim, "This kid is too arrogant! How can he speak to a senior like that...?"

Wasn't he implying that Old Ancestor lacked the ability, and that what he couldn't achieve, Zhou Yuan could?

However, Old Ancestor Cangxuan did not feel offended by these words. Instead, a gratified smile appeared on his face. "If you truly possess such ambition, then I couldn't ask for more."

"To allow Cangxuan Heaven to mend its flaws is my greatest wish, but my abilities were indeed insufficient, and I failed to achieve it... Yet, if it were you, it might not be impossible."

Old Ancestor Cangxuan looked at Zhou Yuan with a gentle gaze. "So, have you decided to inherit the position of Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven?"

Zhou Yuan took a deep breath and nodded heavily.

Around them, Sect Master Qingyang, Venerable Heavenly Sword, and many other Heavenly Domain experts from Cangxuan Heaven also adopted solemn expressions, then bowed deeply to Zhou Yuan.

This bow was an acknowledgment of his willingness to step forward for Cangxuan Heaven at this most critical juncture.

Old Ancestor Cangxuan extended an illusory hand. In its palm, an ancient stone seal quietly floated, its surface flickering with streams of light, reflecting countless mountains and rivers.

"Place your hand upon it."

Zhou Yuan, his expression solemn, slowly extended his hand and finally placed it over the Cangxuan Sacred Seal.

*Boom!*

In that instant, within Cangxuan Heaven, winds and clouds suddenly surged, and the Origin Qi between heaven and earth seemed to become exceptionally active.

Sect Master Qingyang and the others nearby all felt a powerful repellent force erupting from the Cangxuan Sacred Seal, pushing them all away.

Only Old Ancestor Cangxuan and Zhou Yuan remained in place.

However, Zhou Yuan did not feel well at this moment, for along with the surging Origin Qi, he felt an indescribably terrifying pressure sweep over him.

It felt as if the entirety of Cangxuan Heaven was suppressing him.

In the void above, vast and mighty Origin Qi converged, forming enormous mirrors of light. Within these mirrors, mountains, rivers, and all living beings were reflected.

Within these mirrors, a terrifying power that made one's heart palpitate was condensing.

All of this power locked onto Zhou Yuan.

This instantly made his hair stand on end.

"Zhou Yuan, this is the trial for controlling the Cangxuan Sacred Seal. It needs to verify if your strength qualifies you. This trial, I call it... the Heaven's Heart Mirror!"

"You must withstand it well; this is meant to test those at the Saint stage!"

Old Ancestor Cangxuan's voice resonated. Before Zhou Yuan could react, from the enormous mirrors of light high above, beams of light like heavenly thunder crashed down directly onto Zhou Yuan.