Chapter 480: Tai Xuan Sacred Spirit Technique

A radiant lotus descended upon the massive peak. Six figures sat cross-legged on it, exuding an imposing aura, which filled the seven chief disciples, including Zhou Yuan, with even deeper awe. Although they had begun to make significant progress in their cultivation journey, the six individuals before them were already grandmaster-level figures in the world, representing the goal they aspired to reach in the future.

“Greetings, Sect Master, and five Peak Masters,” all seven bowed respectfully.

Sect Master Qing Yang gazed at the seven with a smile, nodding slightly in approval. With a flick of his sleeve, seven auspicious clouds slowly rose from beneath their feet, lifting them into the air.

Zhou Yuan curiously examined the auspicious cloud beneath his feet. It seemed to be formed from pure Genesis Qi, imbued with a mysterious power.

“These seven auspicious clouds are things I usually refine. They can carry people in flight, chase after stars and the moon, and their speed is quite extraordinary. Furthermore, should you encounter a fatal attack, they can block it for you once.”

“Haha, consider this a small gift for the seven of you, a reward for your diligent cultivation over the past year,” Sect Master Qing Yang said with a smile.

Zhou Yuan and the other seven were overjoyed, their eyes gleaming with delight as they looked at the auspicious clouds beneath them. With this item, not only would their travel speed increase in the future, but most importantly, it could block a fatal attack once, effectively giving them an extra protective treasure.

While this was just a small gift for Sect Master Qing Yang, for them, it was a life-saving artifact.

“Thank you, Sect Master!” the seven bowed in gratitude once more.

They had not expected the Sect Master to bestow such a generous gift upon their first meeting.

Sect Master Qing Yang smiled and said, “Among the seven of you, there are veteran chief disciples and newly promoted ones. The upcoming reward is not for the veteran chiefs; your respective Peak Masters will provide other rewards later.”

“As for the newly promoted chiefs…”

He paused, glancing at their eager expressions, then smiled slightly and said, “You will receive what you desire most.”

What was desired most? Of course, it was the Seven Cangxuan Arts!

“Newly promoted chiefs, step forward.”

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yuan immediately activated the auspicious cloud beneath his feet and floated forward.

Beside him, Su Yao, chief disciple of Snow Lotus Peak, and Chen Ze, chief disciple of Vast Cliff Peak, also floated forward. Both of them were also considered newly promoted.

Within the Cangxuan Sect, replacing a veteran chief disciple was not an easy feat. This was because upon becoming a chief, one would gain access to the Seven Cangxuan Arts from their respective peaks. Once a veteran chief had mastered these arts, it became much more difficult for a new disciple to challenge them.

Fortunately, the Seven Cangxuan Arts were not easily mastered. Many veteran chiefs, even after a year, might not even achieve initial comprehension.

Therefore, to challenge, one had to do so before the veteran chief had mastered the Seven Cangxuan Arts. Otherwise, replacing them would likely only be possible after the veteran chief completed their three-year term and automatically retired.

Su Yao and Chen Ze had managed to rise to their positions precisely because their predecessors had not mastered the Seven Cangxuan Arts within the past year, allowing them to seize the opportunity and surpass them.

Peak Master Lianyin of Snow Lotus Peak and Peak Master Gu of Vast Cliff Peak glanced at Su Yao and Chen Ze. Then, with a grasp of their hands, two ancient jade manuals appeared.

The jade manuals slowly floated up, hovering before Su Yao and Chen Ze, emitting a mysterious glow.

Su Yao and Chen Ze’s eyes showed excitement. They respectfully, and somewhat tremblingly, extended their hands to receive them. Contained within these jade manuals was one of the renowned Seven Cangxuan Arts of the Cangxuan Sect.

Sect Master Qing Yang turned to Zhou Yuan and said, “As Saint Genesis Peak has never had a Peak Master, that particular manual, the ‘Grand Mystery Sacred Spirit Art,’ has been under my care. Today, I bestow it upon you.”

An ancient, unadorned jade manual also appeared in his hand, then floated towards Zhou Yuan.

Zhou Yuan respectfully took it. The manual felt cool to the touch, but his heart burned with excitement. A top-grade Heaven Genesis Art! This was the highest-level Genesis Art he had ever encountered.

“Thank you, Sect Master.”

Sect Master Qing Yang nodded and cautioned, “Now that you have received the Seven Cangxuan Arts, you must cultivate diligently. If, after one year, you fail to master them, and your chief disciple position is taken by a new disciple, then the jade manual will be reclaimed.”

The disciples all nodded seriously.

With the bestowal of the Seven Cangxuan Arts complete, the ceremony should have concluded. However, Sect Master Qing Yang pondered for a moment, then looked at Zhou Yuan and said, “Zhou Yuan, as the chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak, you will, according to the rules, enter the sealed main peak of Saint Genesis Peak to attempt to open its gate.”

Zhou Yuan’s expression became serious; this matter had finally arrived.

However, before he could speak, a calm voice suddenly rang out: “Sect Master, in the past, many chief disciples of Saint Genesis Peak have been unable to open its gate. Trying again now would likely have a low success rate. Furthermore, Saint Genesis Peak is a place cherished by the Old Ancestor, and it must not remain completely dormant. I suggest that this time, all seven chief disciples enter Saint Genesis Peak together to see if, with greater numbers, we can open the gate.”

Zhou Yuan’s pupils contracted slightly. He looked up and saw that the speaker was none other than Peak Master Ling Jun.

Peak Master Ling Jun’s handsome face remained impassive. He merely directed his gaze towards Sect Master Qing Yang, not at Zhou Yuan.

Sect Master Qing Yang and the other Peak Masters were slightly taken aback, evidently not expecting Peak Master Ling Jun to suggest that all seven chief disciples enter Saint Genesis Peak.

“You are quite persistent concerning Saint Genesis Peak,” Peak Master Lianyin said, glancing at Peak Master Ling Jun.

Peak Master Ling Jun calmly replied, “Saint Genesis Peak was where the Old Ancestor resided for many years, and it was the only place he stayed before his demise. We need to find some clues there.”

“Including... the Cangxuan Saint Stamp!”

As those last four words were uttered, silence fell upon the peak. An inexplicable pressure seemed to emanate, causing hearts to tremble.

Sect Master Qing Yang’s face also grew solemn.

“The Cangxuan Saint Stamp is of paramount importance. If our Cangxuan Sect can reacquire it, we will no longer need to fear the Sacred Palace, and the past debts can finally be settled.”

“However, if such a sacred artifact falls into the hands of the Sacred Palace, and their leader becomes the new Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven, wielding control over the might of heaven and earth… At that point, I fear the billions of living beings in Cangxuan Heaven will become vassals of the Saint Race,” Peak Master Ling Jun slowly stated.

“Therefore, I believe it is imperative to open Saint Genesis Peak’s gate as quickly as possible to confirm whether the Cangxuan Saint Stamp is truly within.”

Faced with Peak Master Ling Jun’s words, even Peak Master Lianyin had nothing further to say.

“There is some truth to that,” Peak Master Lei Jun of Thunder Prison Peak said, his voice hoarse and deep.

Sect Master Qing Yang pondered briefly, looking at the other Peak Masters. They offered no further objections, as this matter was indeed of immense significance.

The Cangxuan Saint Stamp was the foremost treasure in Cangxuan Heaven!

However, Zhou Yuan, standing to the side, listened with growing anxiety. He was quite certain that the Cangxuan Saint Stamp was not within Saint Genesis Peak. Only a Cangxuan Saint Rune, stripped from the Saint Stamp itself, resided there!

But he clearly could not reveal this.

If all seven chief disciples truly entered together, even if he found the Cangxuan Saint Rune, he would likely cause a disturbance and be discovered. What would he do then?

If the Cangxuan Sect were truly united, he might consider making a concession. However, the Cangxuan Old Ancestor had once told him to be cautious within the Cangxuan Sect and not to easily expose the Saint Rune.

Yet, with six grand figures currently deliberating, he, as a mere chief disciple, clearly had no right to participate. Furthermore, appearing overly anxious would inevitably draw suspicion.

However, just as Zhou Yuan was feeling anxious and contemplating a solution, an aged voice suddenly resounded on the peak, forcefully interjecting into the conversation of the six grand figures.

“The rules of Saint Genesis Peak were personally set by the Master. If you wish to circumvent those rules, there is only one path: step over this old man’s corpse.”

The sudden voice startled Zhou Yuan and the others, who quickly looked up.

They then saw an old man, holding a bamboo broom and dressed in a hemp robe, who had appeared on the peak at some unknown point. His cloudy eyes were fixed coldly on Sect Master Qing Yang and the others.

It was none other than Elder Xuan, the mountain sweeper of Saint Genesis Peak!