Chapter 571: Helper

Once the Sacred Palace team retreated from the mountain range, the various factions who had been watching from a distance shook their heads in disappointment. They had hoped to see the two major powerhouses truly clash, believing such a conflict would provide them with an opportunity to gain an advantage.

They surmised that both sides held a considerable amount of Profound Origin Essence.

However, neither party lost their composure.

Deprived of their opportunity, they gradually dispersed.

Within mere minutes, the once bustling mountain range fell silent once more.

Shortly after the other factions departed, numerous whooshing sounds suddenly echoed from the rear, and Jin Zhang and the others saw dozens of figures descend from the sky.

It was Gu Hongyi, Zhou Tai, Lu Yan, and the others, but by the time they arrived, all they could see was the ravaged battlefield.

"Chief Jin Zhang, are you alright?" Their eyes immediately went to Jin Zhang and the Cangxuan Sect disciples.

Gu Hongyi's gaze swept around, and she asked, a hint of confusion in her voice, "Zhou Yuan, where are the Sacred Palace members?"

Jin Zhang couldn't help but smile. "You arrived too late," he said. "Zhou Yuan has already driven the Sacred Palace members away. One of their chief disciples was severely wounded by him, his fate unknown."

Gu Hongyi and the others exchanged surprised glances. It was already over?

"Chief Zhou Yuan is truly formidable," the rescued Cangxuan Sect disciples behind Jin Zhang said, looking at Zhou Yuan with awe and profound respect.

Zhou Yuan's swift, decisive defeat of Ning Mo earlier had left a profound impression on them.

When these disciples looked at Gu Hongyi's group, their eyes held a hint of envy. After all, having such a powerful leader would undoubtedly significantly boost the efficiency of collecting Profound Origin Essence.

The Cangxuan Sect disciples in Zhou Yuan's team felt a sense of pride under these admiring gazes.

Jin Zhang then turned to Zhou Yuan, clasping his fists. "Chief Zhou Yuan, I am truly grateful for your help this time."

Had Zhou Yuan not arrived promptly, their situation would undoubtedly have been dire.

Zhou Yuan waved a dismissive hand. "As fellow disciples," he said, "it's only natural."

Once inside the Profound Origin Grotto-Heaven, the Cangxuan Sect operates as a single entity, no longer divided by individual peaks. A weakening of their collective strength would inevitably lead to severe difficulties when facing the Sacred Palace.

Thus, Zhou Yuan was unlikely to stand by while a team led by a chief disciple was annihilated by the Sacred Palace.

Jin Zhang's expression was somewhat complex. He recalled that he had been a guardian of the core of the Genesis Pattern barrier when Spirit Pattern Peak tested Yaoyao, which had caused some trouble for both Yaoyao and Zhou Yuan.

He was therefore touched that Zhou Yuan had rushed to their aid without hesitation upon receiving the urgent distress call.

However, Jin Zhang quickly composed himself. He glanced at his weary team members and said, "Chief Zhou Yuan, let's withdraw from this area for now. This place seems to be the Sacred Palace's home turf."

His expression was grave. If Wang Yuan's earlier statement was true, then three chief disciples of the Sacred Palace had arrived in this area. Such a lineup was formidable.

He was also quite puzzled as to why three Sacred Palace chief disciples would gather in one place.

Regardless, the Sacred Palace's strength here was overwhelming. Remaining would put them at a severe disadvantage. They should now move to other areas to seek and collect Profound Origin Essence.

To Jin Zhang's surprise, Zhou Yuan pondered for a moment, then shook his head. "I'm afraid I don't intend to leave this area," he said.

He had brought his team here not solely to rescue Jin Zhang and his group. More importantly, the six-colored treasure trove was located in this very area.

After his recent experience collecting Profound Origin Essence, Zhou Yuan understood how difficult it was to condense a six-color divine artifact for Foundation Establishment. He recognized the immense opportunity the six-colored treasure trove represented, and having discovered it, he could not possibly abandon it.

Jin Zhang visibly stiffened at Zhou Yuan's words, then quickly urged, "Zhou Yuan, don't be reckless. You heard earlier that besides Wang Yuan, Fan Yao, the chief disciple of the Blood Sacred Hall from the Sacred Palace, is also here. If we don't retreat quickly, we could face severe consequences if they attack."

"That Fan Yao is incredibly strong!"

Jin Zhang stated gravely, "If we were to rank the chief disciples from all the forces across the Shengzhou Continent, Fan Yao would absolutely be among the top ten."

"Fan Yao, then..."

Zhou Yuan's eyes flickered, and after a brief silence, he said, "There's a treasure ground in this area. If I'm not mistaken, that's why so many Sacred Palace chief disciples have gathered here."

"A treasure ground?" Jin Zhang was taken aback, finally understanding Zhou Yuan's insistence on staying. In the Profound Origin Grotto-Heaven, a treasure ground signifies a profound opportunity.

However, even with a treasure ground present, snatching it wouldn't be easy, especially with so many Sacred Palace experts gathered and Fan Yao overseeing them.

"Chief Jin Zhang, why don't you lead your team to withdraw first, and I'll scout the situation?" Zhou Yuan suggested with a smile. He could tell Jin Zhang was highly apprehensive of Fan Yao from the Sacred Palace and didn't want to force him to come along.

While Zhou Yuan ideally wanted them to accompany him—as the Sacred Palace's presence of nearly three chief disciples here was somewhat beyond his expectations, even with Ning Mo, one of them, having been crippled by him—for added security, Jin Zhang's presence would undoubtedly improve their chances.

Jin Zhang was silent for a few moments, then gritted his teeth. "You came to save us; how could we abandon you?" he said. "Alright, if you're determined to go to that treasure ground, we'll go with you. Consider it our way of backing you up."

Zhou Yuan was momentarily stunned, clearly surprised by Jin Zhang's reply.

"Ning Mo was severely wounded by you," Jin Zhang said slowly. "Even if he recovers, he likely won't be able to fight again. That leaves the Sacred Palace with only two chief disciples: Fan Yao and Wang Yuan. All things considered, we're not significantly weaker than them."

Unable to persuade Zhou Yuan, Jin Zhang resigned himself to accompanying him.

"What about you all?" Jin Zhang asked, looking at the other disciples behind him.

The disciples exchanged glances, then all gritted their teeth. "If Chief Zhou Yuan is confident, then we certainly aren't afraid to take risks," they declared. "They killed over ten of our fellow disciples; how can we simply let it go?!"

Ultimately, none of them feared the Sacred Palace. As disciples of the Cangxuan Sect, they carried their own pride.

Seeing their resolve, Jin Zhang felt a surge of relief. He looked at Zhou Yuan and said, "If Chief Zhou Yuan doesn't consider us a burden, we are willing to accompany you and help you claim that treasure ground."

"After all, we have a significant interest in such a treasure ground ourselves."

Zhou Yuan smiled. In that moment, he truly appreciated the advantages of their sect. While there was considerable internal competition, at times like these, they could at least cooperate and stand united against external threats.

"In that case, let's work together once more." He extended a hand to Jin Zhang.

Jin Zhang smiled back, reaching out to grasp his hand.

"Let's hope this time, we can redeem ourselves after our previous hasty retreat..."