Chapter 610: The Opportunities in the Great Xuan Mountain Range

As the Sacred Palace’s contingent departed, the tense atmosphere over the ruins gradually eased. Everyone present breathed a sigh of relief. While they hadn't witnessed the duel between Chu Qing and Jiang Taishen, they understood that the most crucial matter for all the sects now was the great hidden opportunity located deep within the Great Profound Mountain Range. If the two strongest forces, the Sacred Palace and the Cangxuan Sect, had clashed here, it would undoubtedly have had a considerable impact. Therefore, the anticlimactic conclusion to their standoff was, in fact, the best outcome.

As Chu Qing, Yao Yao, and Zhou Yuan descended, Tang Muxin and the other Cangxuan Sect disciples quickly came forward to greet them.

“Zhou Yuan, are you alright?” Tang Muxin asked, her beautiful eyes fixed on him with concern.

Zhou Yuan smiled and waved his hand reassuringly.

“Zhou Yuan has certainly boosted our Cangxuan Sect’s morale this time,” Tang Muxin said with a beaming smile.

The other chief disciples nodded gently. Even Baili Che, who usually disagreed with Zhou Yuan, fell silent, acknowledging that the strength Zhou Yuan had displayed truly far surpassed their own. Whether it was his previous feat of blowing off Zhao Jing’s arm with a single punch, or later enduring Jin Chanzi’s surprise attack, both incidents indicated that Zhou Yuan had indeed surpassed them. Baili Che knew full well that if they were to fight again, he would be no match for Zhou Yuan.

“For Zhou Yuan to become the chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak in less than two years, it’s clearly not as simple as you all might think,” Chu Qing said, yawning nearby. “It just goes to show you usually lack foresight, going around provoking people.”

As soon as Chu Qing spoke, Tang Muxin and the other chief disciples involuntarily turned their gaze to Baili Che, whose face alternated between green and white. After all, within the Cangxuan Sect, his Sword Cometh Peak had always been most at odds with Zhou Yuan.

As the atmosphere grew awkward, Zhou Yuan lightly coughed and said with a smile, “Senior Brother Chu Qing, you flatter me. Don’t I know my own capabilities?”

Chu Qing smiled, then immediately asked, “So you really plan to confront Jin Chanzi?” He had discerned earlier that Zhou Yuan’s words were not mere bravado; he had genuinely formed an enmity with Jin Chanzi. Given Zhou Yuan’s character, he would likely not passively accept the loss from being ambushed earlier.

Zhou Yuan’s expression remained unchanged as he nodded gently. “I can feel that he truly wants to kill me,” he said. “Since that’s the case, I can’t just sit back and wait to be killed, can I? If the opportunity arises, I’ll certainly have a real confrontation with him.” Although he had never met Jin Chanzi face-to-face, Zhou Yuan had sensed an unmistakable killing intent from his attack. He knew that even though Jin Chanzi had failed this time, he would undoubtedly seize any future opportunity to strike. Given this, Zhou Yuan had no choice but to harbor murderous intent himself.

Tang Muxin and the others’ expressions shifted slightly. They clearly hadn’t expected Zhou Yuan to be so audacious as to even consider targeting Jin Chanzi, who was ranked fifth on the Saint Son list! Jin Chanzi’s strength was such that, even within their Cangxuan Sect, he could rival figures like Kong Sheng and Li Qingchan.

Chu Qing couldn’t help but rub his smooth head. “Jin Chanzi isn’t easy to deal with,” he said. “Don’t be reckless. If you really want to eliminate him, we could find an opportunity and send a few of our Saint Sons to surround and kill him.”

At these words, everyone else immediately stared at him.

Tang Muxin murmured, “Senior Brother Chu Qing, you usually seem so lazy, but I never realized how ruthless you can be.”

Chu Qing chuckled. “While I may be a bit lazy, I’m not foolish,” he said. “And I’m confident that if Jiang Taishen had the chance, he wouldn’t hesitate to ambush and kill our Cangxuan Sect’s Saint Sons.”

Zhou Yuan couldn’t help but smile. Although Senior Brother Chu Qing appeared lazy and carefree, he was clearly more insightful than anyone. It wasn’t surprising, however; to be the head of the Cangxuan Sect’s Saint Sons, anyone who genuinely underestimated Chu Qing would be the true fool.

“If an opportunity arises, that would be ideal. If not, I’ll find a way to handle it myself,” Zhou Yuan said with a smile. He was not one to be inflexible; if he could achieve his goal by leveraging others’ strength, there was no need for him to recklessly risk his own life. Jin Chanzi’s strength was indeed formidable, just as Chu Qing had stated. While Zhou Yuan currently possessed many trump cards, attempting to slay Jin Chanzi still carried considerable risk. However, if he could find another opportunity and break through to the Eighth Heaven, his chances would significantly improve.

As they spoke, Yao Yao suddenly lifted her head, her bright eyes scanning the nearby area where contingents from other sects were gathering. Among them, she spotted several familiar figures. Yao Yao tugged at Zhou Yuan, and his gaze also followed hers. He then saw the figures looking their way, and a look of delight appeared on his face.

“Zuoqiu Qingyu, Lu Chunjun, Ning Zhan, Zhen Xu…”

These were the companions with whom he had first arrived on the Shengzhou Continent; they were finally reunited.

In the distance, Zuoqiu Qingyu flashed a charming smile at Zhou Yuan. She then gestured with her elegant finger towards the disciples gathering behind her, and finally pointed towards the mysterious mountain range far in the distance.

“She says there’s no need to meet now,” Yao Yao said, her red lips slightly parted. “There should be an opportunity once we enter the Great Profound Mountain Range.”

Zhou Yuan smiled and nodded to them in acknowledgment. With light steps, Zuoqiu Qingyu then turned and headed towards the Hundred Flowers Immortal Palace, her small hands clasped behind her back. Lu Chunjun, his eyes covered by black cloth, stared at Zhou Yuan for a moment before reaching back to pat the heavy sword on his back. Ning Zhan bumped his fist, his face filled with an eagerness for battle. Zhen Xu, after a couple of light coughs, glanced at Zhou Yuan from a distance before quietly turning and departing.

Zhou Yuan watched their retreating figures and murmured, “It seems they’ve had quite different experiences in their respective sects.”

“Each sect has its own rules, so naturally things will be different,” Yao Yao replied. “People change with their environment.”

Zhou Yuan exhaled. “I just hope that no matter what, they remain the companions who left the Cangmang Continent together,” he said. He quickly shook his head, casting aside these thoughts.

“We should also prepare to depart,” Chu Qing said then.

Zhou Yuan nodded, then couldn’t help but ask out of curiosity, “Senior Brother Chu Qing, is the Great Profound Mountain Range our final destination in the Profound Origin Cave Heaven this time?”

Chu Qing smiled. “The Great Profound Mountain Range is already the deepest part of the Profound Origin Cave Heaven,” he replied. “If my estimation is correct, this will indeed be our destination.”

“What’s hidden within the Great Profound Mountain Range? Is it a treasure trove? We actually encountered a Six-Colored Treasure Land earlier.”

“A Six-Colored Treasure Land? To encounter one in the outer periphery, your luck must be quite good,” Chu Qing said with a smile, then gestured a ‘one’ and a ‘six’ with his fingers towards Zhou Yuan. “However, as for Six-Colored Treasure Lands, a total of sixteen have already appeared within the Great Profound Mountain Range to date.”

Tang Muxin and the others nearby gasped sharply. Even Zhou Yuan was dumbfounded. They had considered themselves incredibly lucky to stumble upon one Six-Colored Treasure Land, yet there were already sixteen in the Great Profound Mountain Range?! What an astonishing concept!

Chu Qing patted Zhou Yuan’s shoulder, his voice taking on a mysterious tone. “Don’t be surprised,” he said. “If our conjectures are correct, these Six-Colored Treasure Lands are merely minor rewards. Deep within the Great Profound Mountain Range, there should be a major opportunity hidden—one beyond imagination…”