Chapter 1472: Cangyuan Breakthrough

Amidst the chaotic oceanic space, as Zhou Yuan issued the retreat order, the forces from Cangxuan Heaven quickly got ready. Spatial passages were constructed at the rear, while powerful scrolls, each containing terrifying might, were placed throughout the area.

Once detonated, these scrolls possessed enough power to destroy the entire space.

Standing in mid-air before the spatial passages, Zhou Yuan scanned the area again, checking the powerful scrolls. Finally, without hesitation, he waved his hand.

"Prepare for detonation!"

"Yes!"

As his command rang out, many responded in affirmation. Immediately after, all the Saints simultaneously acted, instantly igniting the powerful scrolls.

Boom! Boom!

At that instant, everyone could feel terrifying destructive forces erupting within the oceanic space, like a world-ending torrent.

The void began to distort. Where the destructive forces swept through, everything within the space was instantly razed.

The space seemed to wail, quietly awaiting its destruction.

"Retreat."

Zhou Yuan watched the scene, knowing the space would soon be completely destroyed. He then began to instruct his forces to prepare for retreat.

Upon hearing this, the various forces began entering the spatial passages one after another.

Zhou Yuan, Zhuan Zhu, Chu Qing, Li Chunjun, and the other Saints remained at the very rear, covering the retreat.

As time passed, a hazy mist permeated the entire space, as if it had reverted to a state of primal chaos.

Zhou Yuan gazed at the scene, his brow subtly furrowing. He then exhaled a breath, which transformed into a sweeping hurricane, instantly clearing away all the pervasive mist.

The world became clear once more.

Then, a shattered world appeared before his eyes, but Zhou Yuan's expression gradually turned grim.

He realized that while the space was exceptionally shattered, it had not been truly destroyed.

This was clearly abnormal, as the power of the scrolls left behind should have achieved more than just this.

Zhou Yuan narrowed his eyes. The next moment, he stomped his foot, and a vast power surged upwards from the crown of his head, transforming into a mighty torrent that erupted directly within the shattered space, sweeping towards the void in all directions.

However, just as Zhou Yuan's immense power was about to collide with the space's boundary, subtle lightning suddenly flashed at the void boundary. The lightning, accompanied by a roaring sound, met the powerful impact.

A roaring sound reverberated within the space, and Zhou Yuan's formidable Saint power was actually forcibly dispersed.

Seeing this, Zhuan Zhu and the others' expressions drastically changed.

Zhou Yuan's heart also suddenly sank. Who else but an Ancient Saint of the Saint Clan could so easily neutralize his attack?

Clearly, the Thunder-wielding Saint of the Saint Clan had already arrived!

Rumble! Rumble!

At that moment, the heavens and earth continuously rumbled, as if billions of lightning bolts flashed in the void, resembling angry dragons coiling and flowing.

Finally, countless lightning bolts descended and intertwined.

From within the lightning, a figure slowly emerged, holding a bronze cauldron within which billions of thunders seemed to roar, shaking the firmament.

When Zhou Yuan, Zhuan Zhu, and the other Saints saw this figure, their expressions all drastically changed.

"Is that... the Thunder-wielding Ancient Saint?!" A hint of fear flashed across the faces of all the Saints present. The Saint Clan's Seven Great Ancient Saints were notoriously fearsome, and most of their current forces were only One-Lotus Saints, completely incapable of contending with an Ancient Saint.

"Was it you who captured Yan Xu?"

Amidst the fearful gazes, the Thunder-wielding Ancient Saint's pair of silver eyes stared indifferently at Zhou Yuan. The moment he spoke, the entire world resounded with furious thunder, making souls tremble.

"Your Saint might contains Yan Xu's power... It seems to be the effect of the Heaven Net Chessboard, doesn't it? This Yan Xu, his caution truly brought him both success and failure."

"A dignified peak Two-Lotus Saint could have simply crushed with overwhelming power, yet chose to play such tricks," the Thunder-wielding Ancient Saint said, shaking his head. Then his silver eyes fixed on Zhou Yuan, "Release him."

Zhou Yuan's expression was solemn. He slowly replied, "First, let our people withdraw from this place."

The Thunder-wielding Ancient Saint's lips curved into a sneer. The next moment, he said nothing more. Countless bolts of lightning suddenly flashed forth between heaven and earth, as mighty as giant dragons, unleashing an indescribably terrifying power as they raged.

The countless lightning dragons merged, forming a colossal hand of pure lightning that slammed down directly from the sky. Beneath the lightning hand, everything was reduced to dust.

Such power made even Zhou Yuan, still bolstered by his enhancements, feel his scalp tingle.

As for the other Saints, their eyes were filled with even greater fear and panic.

Zhou Yuan took a deep breath, stepped forward, and unleashed his formidable might, preparing to directly confront the attack. If the giant lightning hand were to land, it would undoubtedly destroy the spatial passages behind them, leading to even greater casualties.

"Help!" Zhuan Zhu quickly steadied himself and sharply shouted.

He understood that despite Zhou Yuan's strength, and even if the enhancement from the Heaven Net Chessboard hadn't ended, it would still be very difficult to truly contend with an Ancient Saint.

Therefore, they had to help share some of the burden.

Hearing this, the other Saints hesitated for a moment, but ultimately gritted their teeth, circulated their power, and prepared to act.

However, just as the Saints were about to combine their efforts to meet the giant lightning hand, they suddenly saw the void above distort. Immediately, an ancient figure flashed out of thin air, causing their vision to blur.

The figure appeared so abruptly that even Zhou Yuan and the others failed to notice when he arrived. It felt as if he had always stood there, unchanging since antiquity.

With the appearance of the ancient figure, Zhou Yuan, Zhuan Zhu, and the others were astonished to find that the terrifying, overwhelming pressure seemed to be completely blocked by a towering mountain at that moment. The burden on everyone instantly plummeted.

At the same time, endless mist permeated the void. From within the mist, a colossal sound seemed to emanate. Immediately after, everyone saw a massive, mottled divine millstone grinding its way out from the mist. It then traversed layers of void, colliding with the giant lightning hand.

Boom! Boom!

At that instant, a storm of power raged. This already shattered space instantly collapsed under the impact. Layers of space fractured, and all matter within them continuously vanished into thin air.

Meanwhile, Zhou Yuan and the others, who were behind the ancient figure, were completely unaffected by the shockwave. They watched the front with some shock, as they discovered that the Thunder-wielding Ancient Saint's attack had actually been neutralized.

"Did one of the Ancient Venerables from the Return to Ruin Divine Hall arrive in time?!" a Saint exclaimed in surprise.

Only Zhou Yuan and Zhuan Zhu exchanged a look of surprise and doubt, because the mottled divine millstone that emerged from the mist gave them a sense of familiarity.

While they were pleasantly surprised and puzzled, the Thunder-wielding Ancient Saint's gaze also darkened amidst the intertwining billions of thunderbolts in the void, and a roaring sound echoed.

"An Ancient Venerable from the Heavens?"

"Oh, you are not Jin Luo, Dilong, or Chiji..."

The Thunder-wielding Ancient Saint's stern face gradually filled with solemnity. Then he waved his sleeve, and the mist instantly dissipated, revealing the ancient figure standing in the void.

"You are..."

The Thunder-wielding Ancient Saint's pupils suddenly dilated. A booming sound, tinged with shock, abruptly reverberated.

"Cang Yuan?! You actually successfully advanced to the Three-Lotus stage?!"

As soon as these words were uttered, several Saints from Cangxuan Heaven widened their eyes, gazing with shock at the ancient figure who had appeared to save them.

As for Zhou Yuan and Zhuan Zhu, after being stunned for several seconds, expressions of wild joy appeared on their faces.

The person who came was actually Master Cang Yuan!

He had successfully broken through!