Chapter 511: Initial Encounter with the Mysterious Source

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Clang! Clang!

The ancient bells reverberated melodiously between heaven and earth, igniting an astonishing fervor within the Cangxuan Sect. The clamor transformed the serene, almost otherworldly, cultivation sanctuary into a bustling marketplace.

For today marked the opening of the Genesis Pond Festival.

Saint Genesis Peak.

Outside the cave dwelling, Zhou Tai and several disciples waited anxiously. In front of them, Yao Yao held Tuntun, her expression calm.

“Junior Sister Yao Yao, is Junior Brother Zhou Yuan not ready yet? We’re about to head to the Genesis Pond. If he doesn’t come out soon, he might miss it!” Zhou Tai couldn’t help but ask Yao Yao.

Yao Yao shook her head, saying, “He’s in seclusion. He’ll come out when he’s finished. Don’t disturb him.”

Hearing Yao Yao, Zhou Tai and the others could only grimace. They had no choice but to accept it when it came to Yao Yao, as they knew that compared to Zhou Yuan, their chief disciple, Yao Yao was truly the stabilizing force of Saint Genesis Peak.

Clang! Clang!

Resounding bells continued to echo through the air. Zhou Tai and the others paced back and forth amidst the chimes, filled with anxiety.

They couldn’t imagine the ridicule that would ensue if Zhou Yuan failed to make it to the Genesis Pond Festival. Sword Cometh Peak would surely interpret it as Zhou Yuan deliberately avoiding the event.

The label of weakness would undoubtedly be placed on Zhou Yuan and Saint Genesis Peak, causing immense damage to their reputations.

Just as the cold sweat on their foreheads grew, a familiar voice finally emerged from the cave dwelling, making Zhou Tai and the others sigh with relief.

“Haha, sorry to have kept you waiting, Senior Brother.”

Zhou Tai and the others quickly looked up and saw Zhou Yuan slowly walking out of the cave dwelling.

Zhou Yuan was smiling calmly, his eyes particularly bright, like stars. Looking directly at them even caused a slight stinging sensation in one’s eyes.

Zhou Tai felt that Zhou Yuan seemed different now, but he couldn't quite pinpoint how.

However, there was no time to ponder such things. He urged, “Since you’ve come out, let’s go quickly. All the disciples of Saint Genesis Peak are waiting for you.”

Zhou Yuan nodded, his gaze meeting Yao Yao’s. Her beautiful eyes paused on his forehead for a moment, then she said, “Not bad. You haven’t disappointed.”

Zhou Yuan smiled and, without saying more, waved his sleeve. Genesis Qi surged, lifting everyone into the air.

The Genesis Qi cloud streaked across the sky, and after about ten minutes, it descended in front of a main hall on Saint Genesis Peak. Here, disciples from both factions of Saint Genesis Peak were gathered, a dense throng.

These disciples were clearly anxious from waiting. Now, seeing Zhou Yuan appear, they let out a collective sigh of relief and cupped their fists in greeting.

“Greetings, Chief!”

Zhou Yuan returned the gesture and then looked at Shen Taiyuan in front of the main hall, saying, “I nearly missed the time. I hope Master Shen doesn’t mind.”

Shen Taiyuan’s expression was composed, showing no anxiety. He waved his hand with a smile and said, “Since you’re here, let’s depart.”

With a sweep of his sleeve, Genesis Qi surged, directly sweeping up the many disciples and soaring into the sky.

Outside the Genesis Pond.

A dense crowd filled the surrounding mountains, their clamor permeating the air.

The disciples from each peak were clearly delineated. At this moment, their gazes were all directed towards Saint Genesis Peak, as the other six peaks had already arrived, with only Saint Genesis Peak absent.

As time passed, whispers quietly began to spread.

“What is Saint Genesis Peak doing? It’s already this late, and they haven’t appeared yet.”

“Could it be that they were intimidated by Sword Cometh Peak? Are they going to directly abandon this Genesis Pond Festival?”

“Uh... it’s not impossible, but if that’s the case, what face would Saint Genesis Peak have left? In all these years, I’ve never seen a peak dare not participate in the Genesis Pond Festival.”

“Heh, they’re going to be utterly dominated by Sword Cometh Peak if they enter anyway…”

“It seems that Chief Zhou Yuan hasn’t instilled much confidence in Saint Genesis Peak’s disciples, has he?”

Similar comments continued to spread.

At Sword Cometh Peak’s gathering spot, many disciples were already laughing mockingly, their expressions slightly arrogant. Saint Genesis Peak’s display of fear clearly gave them a sense of satisfaction.

Kong Sheng, Zhao Zhu, and Baili Che stood at the forefront of the disciples. They exchanged glances, a peculiar expression on their lips.

Could it be that Saint Genesis Peak was truly too scared to come?

“It seems I overestimated Zhou Yuan too much,” Baili Che said lightly, his tone derisive. He clearly didn’t want Saint Genesis Peak to be afraid to participate in the Genesis Pond Festival, because if they didn’t, how would he be able to show off?

So, facing Saint Genesis Peak’s absence, he felt a hint of anger in his heart.

That Zhou Yuan, he didn’t have much ability, but he was very good at annoying people!

However, just as Baili Che felt a slight displeasure, a rushing sound echoed through the air. Immediately, countless disciples saw Genesis Qi clouds descending from the sky, and hundreds of Saint Genesis Peak disciples landed on a nearby mountain.

When they appeared, the sharp gazes of Sword Cometh Peak’s many disciples immediately shot towards them.

Shen Taiyuan looked up at the six towering figures in the sky and said, “Reporting to the Sect Master, Saint Genesis Peak’s disciples have all arrived.”

In the sky, Sect Master Qingyang’s gaze swept down and he nodded slightly. Then, his grand voice resonated through heaven and earth.

“The Genesis Pond was formed from the Genesis Dragon Vein beneath our Cangxuan Sect. Our Cangxuan Sect has stood until now thanks to its power. Today, as you enter the Genesis Pond to seek your fortune, you naturally ought to be grateful.”

Countless disciples wore solemn expressions, then cupped their fists and bowed respectfully to the vast mountain range.

Sect Master Qingyang nodded slightly and said, “You must already be aware of the rules for the Genesis Pond Festival. There is an overall competition among the peaks, and the one with more Genesis Marrow at the end will naturally receive a higher rating.”

He paused, then continued, “Furthermore… according to my sensing, the ‘Xuanxuan Heaven Cave’ on the Shengzhou Continent will reappear this year. This is a place where great fortunes are born within Cangxuan Heaven, and countless sects and forces throughout Cangxuan Heaven eagerly flock to it. Therefore, whenever the ‘Xuanxuan Heaven Cave’ appears, it will stir up great commotion in the world.”

“Hence, after discussions with the five Peak Masters and myself, the allocation of our Cangxuan Sect’s slots to enter the Xuanxuan Heaven Cave this time will be based on each peak’s performance in the Genesis Pond Festival.”

Upon hearing this, the atmosphere outside the Genesis Pond instantly boiled over. Not to mention the ordinary disciples, even the Sacred Sons of each peak, who stood before the numerous disciples, were moved and could no longer maintain their composure.

Xuanxuan Heaven Cave!

That was the place of great fortune they had waited for so long!

Had the news of its opening finally arrived?!

And Zhou Yuan, who stood among the disciples of Saint Genesis Peak, was also stunned at this moment, then he couldn't help but lick his lips.

He hadn’t expected to receive information about the Xuanxuan Heaven Cave again here.

And from the clues revealed by the second Saint Rune…

It seemed that the third Saint Rune was within that Xuanxuan Heaven Cave!