Receiving Zhou Yuan

Chapter 25

After putting away the Heavenly Abyss Blade, he would store it in his Qi Mansion once he opened one.

What Mu Chen understood now was that the Heavenly Abyss Blade still held many unknowns. How far it could evolve would depend entirely on himself; even Cangyuan, its creator, did not know.

Forget it. At least it fit his hand well. After taking a master, he had gained a Source weapon and the aloof Yaoyao.

"Mu Chen, remember this: never let Yaoyao undo the seal on her forehead," Cangyuan said solemnly.

It was not that Yaoyao could not use Source Qi; it had been sealed away.

Mu Chen nodded. Once the seal in Yaoyao's body was undone, she would not be able to hold on for long. The special Source Qi she unleashed might even draw the attention of Saint-level experts.

"Master, I understand. By the way, we may encounter enemies we cannot handle in the future."

"Is there anything we can use to contact you, so you'll know we're in danger?" Mu Chen asked. He did not know whether they would come into contact with the Azure Xuan Sacred Seal, or be targeted by powerful experts because of other matters.

Cangyuan thought for a moment, then took a palm-sized sheet of white paper from his Universe Bag. A black Source Rune was inscribed upon it.

"If you encounter a situation that cannot be resolved by any means, directly channel Source Qi into it. This Source Rune will ignite, and I will know that you are in danger."

Mu Chen nodded and carefully put it away. It might become their lifeline someday.

Time passed quickly, and the two had already spent quite some time in this mysterious place.

One day, Cangyuan had Yaoyao go pick someone up. Mu Chen and Su Youwei followed along to watch the excitement, and Mu Chen knew exactly who that person was.

He wondered what expression Zhou Yuan would wear when he saw Su Youwei and him here.

"Hey, Tuntun, can you stop lying on my head?"

Feeling the weight on his head, Mu Chen complained speechlessly. This little bastard was treating him like a mount.

"Roar, roar, roar~ (It is your honor that I am lying on your head.)" Tuntun stepped on Mu Chen's hair, showing no intention of leaving.

Yaoyao did not mind. Tuntun had put on a little weight lately, so with a big sucker available, she could free her hands and no longer had to carry Tuntun all the time.

Mu Chen could not understand beast speech, but he could sense Tuntun's arrogant, smug expression. His face darkened like a lump of coal.

Little Marten was still better. He was easier to bully.

Su Youwei covered her mouth and giggled. Tuntun really seemed to like Brother Chen, but what kind of Source Beast was Tuntun, exactly?

Elsewhere, in the Great Zhou Ancestral Land.

Zhou Yuan had been bleeding atop the ancient stone platform for a long time. His face was extremely pale, and the fact that he had held on without fainting was enough to show his determination.

Fortunately, the Source Rune activated in the end and teleported Zhou Yuan away, leaving Zhou Qing staring in astonishment.

Though Zhou Qing had never seen such a situation before, he could guess what had happened. Yuan'er had succeeded. He had accomplished what none of the previous emperors had managed, and he should be able to find a method for Meridian Opening.

Bang!

Zhou Yuan fell from the air and slammed heavily into the ground, ending up with a mouthful of mud. Already weak from excessive blood loss, he would have fainted on the spot if not for the Iron Skin Pattern.

"Ptooey, ptooey, ptooey!" Zhou Yuan spat out the dirt in his mouth.

"???"

When Zhou Yuan raised his head, he saw two familiar people and an unfamiliar young woman staring at him with strange looks.

His face immediately reddened, and Zhou Yuan hurriedly got to his feet. So many people had witnessed such an embarrassing sight, and the most important part was that some of them knew him. This was truly awkward.

Why was the little beast on Mu Chen's head laughing so happily? Could it have become sentient?

"Mu Chen, Su Youwei, why are you here?" Zhou Yuan scratched his head. Could there be another route here besides the Zhou Clan's ancestral land?

"We came here by accident. I didn't expect you to come here too," Mu Chen said, holding back his laughter. He had landed like a drenched chicken, while Zhou Yuan had landed face-first in the mud.

"I came from the Great Zhou Ancestral Land. And this is...?" Zhou Yuan looked toward Yaoyao. Her temperament was remarkably aloof, and the chill in her eyes made him shudder.

"In a sense, she's my senior sister," Mu Chen replied after thinking about it.

Yaoyao and Cangyuan did not formally bear the title of master and disciple, but she had learned many things from Cangyuan. It was not wrong for Mu Chen to call Yaoyao his senior sister.

Zhou Yuan had arrived later. Even if he took a master shortly, he would still be Mu Chen's junior brother.

Yaoyao glanced at Mu Chen without refuting him. In a sense, he was indeed her junior brother.

"Come on. Master Cangyuan wants to see you. He should be able to solve your problem," Mu Chen said.

Zhou Yuan's eyes lit up at those words. Even with the composed temperament he had cultivated, his emotions surged wildly now. His face, pale from blood loss, flushed red with excitement.

Meridian Opening cultivation was something he had dreamed of. In truth, the moment he arrived here, he had felt that he could obtain what he sought in this place.

"Want a great opportunity? Let's see whether you can get one from Grandpa Hei," Yaoyao said coolly, her tranquil eyes glancing at Zhou Yuan.

Since Cangyuan had sent her to receive him, he should possess something exceptional.

Yet she had not discovered anything so far. His Eight Meridians had not opened, and his Spirit stage had not even reached the Initial Void Realm.

How should she put it? Even the weakest Source Beast in this forest could tear Zhou Yuan apart.

As they passed through the forest, Tuntun occasionally let out a few roars. The Source Beasts that had been itching to move all became obedient, and this made Zhou Yuan curious about Tuntun. It truly was a magical creature.

However, Tuntun did not spare Zhou Yuan a glance. It lay on Mu Chen's head with its eyes closed.

Since the boss lady would not carry it, it could only lie atop Mu Chen's head, its mount.

"You're here, little fellow with Saint Dragon Qi. But what a pity—your destiny has been stolen, and you also carry the Resentful Dragon Poison. How miserable..."

Cangyuan saw through Zhou Yuan's condition at a glance and shook his head.

Rather than panicking upon hearing this, Zhou Yuan was shocked yet hopeful. Ordinary people could not see through his condition with one look. Since this senior could do so, he surely had a way to resolve it.

Yaoyao glanced at Zhou Yuan. No wonder he was so weak, but Grandpa Hei surely had a way.

"This junior, Zhou Yuan, greets Senior." Zhou Yuan cupped his fists, his expression respectful.

His only hope for Meridian Opening was before him. He could not miss it again, or he would not have much time left.

The Great Wu Dynasty could not leave the Zhou Clan alone forever. It would find all sorts of excuses to act against Great Zhou afterward. Time truly waited for no one; he could not afford to wait any longer.

"So you are indeed from the Zhou Clan." Cangyuan glanced at Zhou Yuan, then at Mu Chen and Su Youwei.

He had been waiting for someone from the Zhou Clan. Mu Chen and Su Youwei were unforeseen variables, people who should not have appeared here.

"Enough. This old man knows what you want, and I can resolve the problem of your Eight Meridians not manifesting. But what do you have to do with this old man? Why should this old man help you?" Cangyuan looked at Zhou Yuan with a faint, teasing smile.