Chapter 497: Seeking the Seal

Bells echoed through the mountains.

High above, Grand Elder Qing Yang and the five peak masters exchanged glances, then descended from the sky, landing directly outside the ancient hall at the summit of the main peak.

Zhou Yuan, who was standing there at this moment, quickly bowed and cupped his hands in greeting upon seeing the Grand Elder and the others.

"Greetings, Grand Elder, five Peak Masters."

Grand Elder Qing Yang looked at Zhou Yuan with a benevolent expression, nodding as he said, "Zhou Yuan, the reopening of Saint Genesis Peak's mountain gate this time is primarily due to your efforts. In truth, we should be thanking you."

Zhou Yuan quickly replied, "As a disciple of Saint Genesis Peak, it is my duty to help reopen its mountain gate."

Grand Elder Qing Yang smiled, then his expression turned solemn as he looked at the jade statue inside the hall. He strode forward, with the five peak masters following closely behind.

The six figures stood before the Ancestor's jade statue, all bowing respectfully.

"After so many years, we finally see this jade statue again," Grand Elder Qing Yang sighed.

Peak Master Ling Jun also gazed at the jade statue. After a moment, he quietly suggested, "Shall we search?"

The others nodded, their expressions slightly grave.

Grand Elder Qing Yang took a deep breath, bowed again to the jade statue, and said, "Master, we apologize for the disturbance."

As soon as his voice fell, the five peak masters vanished from their spots, reappearing within the immense main peak. In that instant, Zhou Yuan could feel several terrifying senses spreading out, searching through the main peak inch by inch.

Grand Elder Qing Yang, however, remained outside the jade statue, his eyes slightly closed, his robes gently billowing. His perception spread, clearly mapping everything in the world within his mind.

With six grand masters conducting such a search, nothing on the main peak would escape detection.

Zhou Yuan watched this scene with a mix of awe and trepidation. If he wasn't mistaken, Grand Elder Qing Yang and the others were likely searching for the Cangxuan Saint Seal, right?

After all, it was the most sacred artifact of Cangxuan Heaven, which had disappeared when the Ancestor perished. If the Cangxuan Sect could reclaim it, their strength would undoubtedly soar, possibly allowing them to once again become the foremost sect in Cangxuan Heaven.

Saint Genesis Peak was the Ancestor's cultivation retreat during his lifetime, and it was personally sealed by him in the end. This naturally led the Grand Elder and others to believe that the Saint Seal might be located on Saint Genesis Peak.

However, he knew that the Cangxuan Saint Seal was not on Saint Genesis Peak; the Ancestor likely sealed the peak merely to protect the second Saint Rune.

Now that he had obtained the Saint Rune, Saint Genesis Peak would yield nothing from their search.

Naturally, he dared not voice this, so he could only watch as the six grand masters probed the main peak.

This probing continued for about half an incense stick's time. The space within the hall rippled slightly, and five figures reappeared, all shaking their heads with grave expressions.

Seeing this, Grand Elder Qing Yang sighed softly and said, "It seems we were too naive in our thoughts."

Peak Master Lei Jun of Thunder Prison Peak frowned, saying gravely, "If Saint Genesis Peak holds nothing unusual, why would Cangxuan seal this place? This is quite uncommon."

"Perhaps Master simply didn't want his place of serene cultivation to be disturbed?" the white-browed elder said, stroking his eyebrows.

Peak Master Ling Jun shook his head, his deep, sharp gaze sweeping across the hall. It suddenly stopped on Zhou Yuan, who was standing at the entrance, and he sharply asked, "You were the first to enter this place; did you not discover anything?"

Zhou Yuan paused, then shook his head without a change in expression, saying, "Disciple does not know what Peak Master Ling Jun is referring to."

Peak Master Ling Jun said indifferently, "You, young man, only possess the strength of the fifth layer of the Primeval Stage, yet your Genesis Qi foundation is extraordinarily deep. I wonder if there is some reason behind this?"

Zhou Yuan calmly replied, "Naturally, I have encountered opportunities and fortuitous events over the years, but I don't see how that concerns Peak Master Ling Jun. Or is Peak Master Ling Jun making things difficult for me because I foiled Sword Cometh Peak's plans during the chief disciple competition?"

Peak Master Ling Jun gave Zhou Yuan a deep look and said, "Stop being so glib. This matter is of great importance. I believe you should be handed over to Thunder Prison Peak for a thorough examination."

Zhou Yuan's brows furrowed slightly. He wasn't particularly worried about the examination, as Grand Elder Qing Yang and the others would certainly not know about the Saint Rune; even if it were detected, it would simply be attributed to his personal fortune.

Still, being subjected to such an unwarranted inspection made him feel somewhat uncomfortable.

"Ling Jun, I see you're so obsessed with the Cangxuan Saint Seal that you've become deluded!"

However, at that moment, an aged, cold chuckle suddenly rang out. Elder Xuan, holding a bamboo broom, was seen leisurely making his way along the mountain path, his gaze fixed coldly on Peak Master Ling Jun.

"Zhou Yuan has just performed a great service for our Saint Genesis Peak. Not only do you not reward him, but you also want to take him to Thunder Prison Peak for examination? Tell me, what kind of logic is that?"

"If word of this gets out, who among our Cangxuan Sect disciples would dare to work for the sect?"

Peak Master Ling Jun said gravely, "The Cangxuan Saint Seal is of paramount importance. It should be understandable for a disciple to suffer a little injustice for it."

Elder Xuan scoffed, "You all know better than anyone what a treasure the Cangxuan Saint Seal is. Such a treasure, even if it were on him, don't you think you'd be able to tell? Is there a need to go to Thunder Prison Peak?"

Peak Master Ling Jun paused. A sacred treasure like the Cangxuan Saint Seal was so mighty that even they found it difficult to completely mask its power fluctuations; it would be utterly impossible for a mere fifth-layer Primeval Stage disciple to conceal it.

"There are always exceptions to everything," Peak Master Ling Jun said slowly, glancing at Zhou Yuan.

Elder Xuan scoffed, then looked at Grand Elder Qing Yang and asked, "Does the Grand Elder also intend to take Zhou Yuan to Thunder Prison Peak for examination?"

Grand Elder Qing Yang smiled, shaking his head. "Zhou Yuan has performed a great service for Saint Genesis Peak; there is absolutely no reason to take him away for examination."

"But..." Peak Master Ling Jun began.

Grand Elder Qing Yang waved his hand, sighing, "Peak Master Ling Jun, I understand the importance of the Cangxuan Saint Seal. However, it's clear that Master did not place it on Saint Genesis Peak. There's no need for baseless suspicion."

"Zhou Yuan is a disciple of our Cangxuan Sect and has contributed to the sect. We must not discourage him."

Seeing Grand Elder Qing Yang speak in this manner, Peak Master Ling Jun could only refrain from saying more, his gaze calmly withdrawing from Zhou Yuan.

"Another wasted effort," Peak Master Lei Jun of Thunder Prison Peak said slowly, gazing at the jade statue. "If the Cangxuan Saint Seal isn't here, where could it be? If it falls into the hands of the Sacred Palace, then Cangxuan Heaven..."

Grand Elder Qing Yang and the others also fell silent. Once the Cangxuan Saint Seal fell into the hands of the Sacred Palace Master, the latter could become the new Heavenly Master of Cangxuan Heaven, thereby possessing the power to control it.

The Cangxuan Sect would truly have no hope of avenging the Ancestor.

Finally, Grand Elder Qing Yang waved his hand, collecting himself slightly. "There's no need for excessive worry, everyone. When Master perished, he surely made preparations. It won't be so easy for the Sacred Palace to find the Cangxuan Saint Seal."

Everyone nodded; at present, this was the only consolation.

Meanwhile, Zhou Yuan stood thoughtfully to the side, wondering if he would be able to sense the whereabouts of the Cangxuan Saint Seal once the four Saint Runes were gathered.

He had a persistent feeling that when the Ancestor originally stripped the four Saint Runes from the Cangxuan Saint Seal, it was precisely with this intention.

As he pondered, Grand Elder Qing Yang turned his gaze towards him, smiling gently. "The reopening of Saint Genesis Peak's mountain gate today is a grand occasion for the Cangxuan Sect. There's no need to take this matter to heart."

"And now that you are the chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak, in a little while, it will be the sect's Genesis Pond Ceremony. As chief, you'll need to work extra hard then. The opportunities that Saint Genesis Peak disciples can gain there will largely depend on you, the chief disciple..."

"Genesis Pond Ceremony?"

Zhou Yuan was slightly startled but nodded respectfully nonetheless.

"Disciple accepts the command."

(One update today.)