Chapter 782: Recognizing Senior Sister

The black brush was mottled, covered with the marks of time. Nine ancient Genesis Runes shimmered faintly on its surface. Staring at the black brush, even Chi Jing couldn't suppress the surge of emotion within her, tears glistening in her eyes.

Clearly, she recognized this unique weapon, which once belonged to Cang Yuan.

Chi Jing lost her composure for a moment, but quickly regained her composure. She looked up, staring at Zhou Yuan, a hint of excitement in her eyes. "Is Master alright?" she asked.

When Cang Yuan suddenly departed years ago, Chi Jing had searched for him ceaselessly, but for years, there had been no news. This led to rumors within Hunyuan Heaven that Cang Yuan had fallen, placing immense pressure on her and the entire Tianyuan Region.

Now, she had finally received news of Cang Yuan. How could she not be excited?

Zhou Yuan nodded, smiling. "Master is fine, but he cannot appear in Hunyuan Heaven. He has been entangled in a struggle with the Sacred Race for all these years."

"The Sacred Race..."

Chi Jing's eyes grew slightly cold, and she nodded gently. Only the Sacred Race could force her Master to remain hidden for so many years.

However, her Master had not fallen. This allowed the heaviest burden in her heart to finally lift, and a rare smile appeared on her beautiful, heroic face.

She did not doubt Zhou Yuan's words. Both the Primordial Chaos Divine Grinding Contemplation and the Heavenly Yuan Brush had to be bestowed by their Master. The Heavenly Yuan Brush, in particular, was her Master's treasured possession. She and her senior brother had long coveted it, but their Master had never given it to them.

Therefore, unless Cang Yuan willingly offered it, no one in this world could take the Heavenly Yuan Brush from him.

"I never expected to have a junior brother," Chi Jing said, looking at Zhou Yuan with great interest. The glint in her eyes was like a little girl seeing a favorite toy.

Zhou Yuan shivered under her gaze.

Chi Jing chuckled softly. "I once asked Master to take another disciple so I could 'discipline'... I mean, guide them. Unfortunately, Master's standards were too high, which disappointed me for quite a while."

"Senior Chi Jing..." Zhou Yuan gave a dry laugh.

Chi Jing's face hardened, and she instructed, "Call me Senior Sister!"

"Senior Chi Jing... Senior Sister..." Zhou Yuan said obediently.

"Say it again."

"...Senior Sister."

"Again."

"...Senior Sister."

After repeating this several times, Chi Jing finally showed a satisfied expression. "That scoundrel, Senior Brother, used to force me to respectfully call him 'Senior Brother' every day. Now I've finally gotten my revenge."

Zhou Yuan was utterly bewildered, wondering why she was getting her revenge on him instead of their Senior Brother.

However, it was clear that after confirming his identity, Chi Jing's attitude towards him had improved immensely. She showed a certain closeness, and the intimidating aura of an Elder in charge completely receded.

"Junior Brother, since you are Master's disciple, why hide it? If you revealed your identity, no one in Tianyuan Region would dare touch you, and Gu Yan certainly wouldn't trouble you," Chi Jing asked. Zhou Yuan had not revealed his identity publicly; instead, he had secretly activated the Primordial Chaos Divine Grinding Contemplation. Only Chi Jing, who also practiced this soul-forging technique, could have detected it.

Clearly, this was because Zhou Yuan did not wish to expose himself. That was why Chi Jing hadn't spoken up immediately. Instead, she had cautiously dismissed Gu Yan and Yi Yan before asking to confirm his identity.

"Do you know that when Master founded the Tianyuan Region, he set a rule? All his personal disciples are qualified to become Elders in charge of the Tianyuan Region. If you reveal your identity, even with your Divine Palace stage cultivation, you would be eligible to become the sixth Elder in charge of the Tianyuan Region."

Zhou Yuan was secretly astonished by her words. An Elder in charge! When Master Cang Yuan was absent, this position represented the highest authority in the Tianyuan Region; it was a position of immense power. No wonder Master rarely accepted disciples. With such status, he could even stand as an equal to those Law Domain experts.

However, he ultimately shook his head with a solemn expression. "Master said I must not reveal my identity as his third disciple to outsiders. Otherwise, the other Great Sovereigns in Hunyuan Heaven would surely try to find him through me."

"When he left back then, he had disagreements with the other Great Sovereigns in Hunyuan Heaven for certain reasons. So, he needs to avoid being found by them."

He did not mention Yaoyao's matter, because he knew it involved too much and should be avoided if possible.

Hearing this, Chi Jing's expression tightened, and she whispered, "So that's it. No wonder I've always felt that the other regions were acting strangely towards our Tianyuan Region all these years..."

However, Zhou Yuan's composure, treating the position of Elder in charge as insignificant, somewhat relieved Chi Jing. After all, not many could resist such temptation.

Master's discerning eye was as good as ever.

If Zhou Yuan knew what she was thinking, he might have been a little embarrassed. In his view, while the position of Elder in charge was indeed prestigious, if it brought life-threatening danger, he would absolutely not want it.

No position, however high, was more important than his life!

"Senior Sister, my visit to Tianyuan Region this time is also on Master's orders, seeking your assistance." Zhou Yuan composed himself, his expression becoming extremely solemn. This was his true objective.

"Master's mission?" Chi Jing nodded slightly. If, as Zhou Yuan had said, it was currently inappropriate for Master to reveal himself, then sending his junior brother must signify a matter of extreme importance.

"Master said that the Ancestral Dragon Lamp is controlled by the nine major regions in rotation, and next time, it must be ours, the Tianyuan Region's," Zhou Yuan stated gravely.

"The Ancestral Dragon Lamp?"

Chi Jing's eyes narrowed. She clearly hadn't expected Master's mission to be related to this item.

"The Ancestral Dragon Lamp is ranked second on the Myriad Heavens Sacred Treasures Register. When activated, it can produce the Ancestral Dragon Primordial Chaos Flame. This flame has two forms: one for creation, one for destruction."

"The flame of creation is a sacred object for tempering the physical body. Once endured, it can lead to great physical mastery. It might even give birth to legendary Ancestral Dragon materials."

"The flame of destruction can incinerate even Saints."

Such a simple statement revealed an overwhelming might.

Zhou Yuan was secretly astonished as well. This Ancestral Dragon Lamp was truly a peerless sacred object. No wonder it needed to be collectively managed by the nine regions, with no one daring to monopolize it.

"The Ancestral Dragon Lamp is jointly managed by the nine regions. Every few years, there will be a Nine Regions Grand Meeting. The region that performs best in the Grand Meeting will gain the right to control the Ancestral Dragon Lamp until the next Grand Meeting..."

"Then our Tianyuan Region must become the champion of the next Nine Regions Grand Meeting," Zhou Yuan stated.

Hearing this, Chi Jing shook her head with a troubled expression. "Do you know what rank our Tianyuan Region got in the last Nine Regions Grand Meeting?"

Zhou Yuan blinked, a bad feeling rising in his heart.

Chi Jing rubbed her temples, and then revealed a ranking that sent a chill down Zhou Yuan's spine.

"Last place."