Chapter 384: Former Childhood Boy

The Scripture Pavilion is located beneath the sealed main peak of Saint Genesis Peak.

The following day, Zhou Yuan, led by Shen Taiyuan, arrived once more at the sealed main peak. At its base stood an ancient hall, slightly dilapidated, covered in the mottled marks of time.

On the steps at the entrance of the old hall, an elderly man in a hemp robe, drowsily holding a broom, was none other than the mountain sweeper known as "Elder Xuan," whom Zhou Yuan had seen upon his first arrival at Saint Genesis Peak.

Zhou Yuan followed behind Shen Taiyuan, looking up at the majestic main peak ahead. Mist swirled around it, and lush trees grew densely, giving it a somewhat mysterious appearance.

In the air, faint light patterns flickered in and out of view, and a vast, boundless ripple emanated, deterring anyone from approaching too closely.

"The sealed main peak..." Zhou Yuan's emotions surged as he gazed at it. The second Saint Rune lay within this very peak, yet despite appearing close enough to touch, it was like a chasm, impossible for him to cross.

To enter the main peak, he first had to become the chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak—a long road lay ahead.

"Elder Xuan." As Zhou Yuan sighed inwardly, Shen Taiyuan looked towards the drowsy old man in front of the ancient hall and bowed respectfully. Although the latter showed no apparent Genesis Qi fluctuations, in terms of seniority, even the Sect Master would treat this old man with courtesy. After all, to some extent, Elder Xuan was the one who had followed Ancestor Cang Xuan the longest.

The old man seemed hard of hearing, as he initially showed no reaction. Shen Taiyuan had to raise his voice and call out several times before the broom-clutching elder stirred awake. He lifted his cloudy eyes, looked at Shen Taiyuan, and seemed to smile faintly, saying in an ancient, hoarse voice, "Ah, it's Elder Shen..."

Shen Taiyuan nodded, getting straight to the point. Pointing at Zhou Yuan, he said, "Elder Xuan, this disciple needs to enter the Scripture Pavilion."

The old man, Elder Xuan, turned his cloudy gaze towards Zhou Yuan. In that instant, Zhou Yuan felt his eyes pause slightly.

"This young fellow just entered the inner mountain not long ago, didn't he? To qualify for the Scripture Pavilion so quickly, he must be quite capable," Elder Xuan said slowly.

Shen Taiyuan smiled slightly. "Zhou Yuan is indeed very talented. He won first place in the Purple Sash Selection, which is why the Sect Master made an exception this time."

Elder Xuan nodded and said no more. He extended a dry, withered hand and said, "Give me the Sect Master's letter."

Shen Taiyuan quickly produced a jade token, which glowed with light.

Elder Xuan took the jade token, examined it for a long moment, then slowly nodded. He tremblingly stood up, leaning on his broom for support, and slowly pushed open the large doors of the ancient hall behind him. *Creak!*

The doors opened to reveal complete darkness inside, devoid of any light, appearing quite mysterious.

"Young man," Elder Xuan said, "the Scripture Pavilion was where the Master once secluded himself for cultivation. What you gain inside depends entirely on your own fate and destiny. If there is no fate, it's not uncommon to leave empty-handed."

Zhou Yuan clasped his fists, indicating he understood. He then looked at Shen Taiyuan, who also nodded back with a smile.

Without hesitation, Zhou Yuan strode forward to the entrance of the ancient hall. He took a deep breath and stepped inside. Darkness enveloped him, and his figure vanished within.

After seeing Zhou Yuan enter the Scripture Pavilion, Elder Xuan tremblingly sat back down on the steps, holding his broom as if falling into a drowse.

Shen Taiyuan bowed to Elder Xuan, then departed.

The base of the main peak once again fell into quiet stillness.

This silence lasted for a while, until a set of footsteps suddenly echoed. A figure, with hands clasped behind his back, strolled into view. Dressed in a white robe, he looked like a handsome youth, his skin glowing with a jade-like luster. It was none other than Peak Master Ling Jun of Sword Cometh Peak!

Elder Xuan, seemingly in a drowse, his eyelids twitched slightly. He looked up, his cloudy eyes briefly glancing at the white-robed youth, then withdrew his gaze, remaining motionless, showing no sign of greeting.

Peak Master Ling Jun, however, paid no mind. He stood beside Elder Xuan, glanced at the opened Scripture Pavilion, and asked, "Did that young fellow named Zhou Yuan go in?"

Elder Xuan did not reply.

Peak Master Ling Jun wasn't concerned; he had merely asked casually. While Zhou Yuan had indeed humiliated Sword Cometh Peak during the Purple Sash Selection, it was impossible for someone of his standing to specifically target Zhou Yuan. His visit clearly wasn't because of Zhou Yuan.

Standing beside Elder Xuan, he gazed up at the mysterious, mist-shrouded main peak before him. After a long silence, he slowly said, "I truly miss the grandeur of this place back then, when Master lectured, and countless powerhouses from all over Cangxuan Heaven gathered here..."

Peak Master Ling Jun softly said, "Saint Genesis Peak has declined for too long. I believe we should restore its former glory. This would also be a way to honor Master."

He spoke these words, yet Elder Xuan remained unmoving, his cloudy eyes unwavering.

Peak Master Ling Jun looked down at him and smiled. "Elder Xuan, you've always been at Saint Genesis Peak. Tell me, when will the seal here be lifted?"

Holding his broom, Elder Xuan finally spoke in a hoarse voice, "When the time comes, it will naturally be lifted."

Peak Master Ling Jun shook his head helplessly. Every time, Elder Xuan gave the same answer.

"Elder Xuan, we cannot simply watch Saint Genesis Peak decline like this. After all, this was Master's favorite place," Peak Master Ling Jun said.

Elder Xuan's cloudy eyes swept over him. "If you truly want to do something for the Master, I think helping him avenge himself would be better than restoring Saint Genesis Peak's glory."

Peak Master Ling Jun gave a bitter smile. "Elder Xuan, the Cangxuan Sect of today is not what it was when Master was alive. The strongest sect in Cangxuan Heaven is no longer our Cangxuan Sect, but the Sacred Palace..."

He paused, staring at the sealed main peak before him. "And to seek revenge, unless the next Heaven Master reappears in our Cangxuan Sect... this would require the symbol of Cangxuan Heaven... the Cangxuan Saint Seal that Master once held. But the Cangxuan Saint Seal vanished with Master's demise..."

He sighed softly, turning his gaze to Elder Xuan, a glimmer of hope in his eyes. "Elder Xuan, you were with Master in his final moments. Do you not know where the Cangxuan Saint Seal is? If our Cangxuan Sect could wield the Saint Seal, then even the Sacred Palace would not intimidate us."

The old man slowly shook his head, his voice hoarse. "The Cangxuan Saint Seal was formed by heaven and earth; I have never seen it. How could I know its whereabouts?"

The light in Peak Master Ling Jun's eyes dimmed.

Elder Xuan gently stroked the broom in his arms, his voice trembling as he said, "These past years, I've noticed you seem more concerned about the Cangxuan Saint Seal than the Sect Master and the others." He looked up at Peak Master Ling Jun. "Do you want to obtain it?"

Peak Master Ling Jun was slightly startled, then spoke without evasion: "Whoever wields the Cangxuan Saint Seal can become the Heaven Master. Who wouldn't desire that? Moreover, only then would I be able to avenge Master. What do you think, Elder Xuan?"

Elder Xuan slowly shook his head. "You are not suitable."

Peak Master Ling Jun replied, his tone utterly calm, "Elder Xuan, I am no longer the young disciple I once was."

Elder Xuan lifted his ancient, time-worn face, gazing at the mysterious, mist-shrouded peak. After a long silence, his hoarse voice finally broke the quiet. "Precisely because you are no longer the young disciple under Master's tutelage, that is why I say... you are not suitable."