Qin Lian was naturally referring to Su Youwei. Over the past half a month, she would often come to the Tianyuan Region camp to find Zhou Yuan, and she would of course be noticed by Qin Lian and the others.
Qin Lian gave Zhou Yuan a strange look and clicked her tongue in amazement. “The Wushen Region’s Wu Yao and the Zixiao Region’s Su Youwei are well known throughout Hunyuan Heaven as great beauties, and even a girl like myself can’t help but have a little of my breath taken away at their beauty. How do two such outstanding young ladies have such complicated relationships with you?”
There seemed to be a little disdain in her eyes, as if she felt he did not match up to Wu Yao and Su Youwei.
The corners of Zhou Yuan’s mouth twitched. He knew that her gossipy side had been incited again. He had already explained his relationships with Wu Yao and Su Youwei many times, but Qin Lian had obviously not listened to a single word. She seemed to be more convinced by her own imagination.
“Hurry up and go train the team,” Zhou Yuan barked in a slightly peeved voice. It had been rather boring to wait over the past half a month, so Qin Lian had been placed in charge of drilling the Tianyuan Region side together with the unaffiliated cultivators to improve their teamwork.
Qin Lian could only shrug, somewhat regretful that she had failed to dig out more juicy gossip from Zhou Yuan.
The two split up, but they soon came to a stop at the same time after only a few steps. They abruptly raised their heads and looked towards the majestic Heaven Pillar Peak.
An extremely terrifying spatial undulation had erupted from the peak, causing the entire place to ripple for a moment.
Zhou Yuan’s and Qin Lian’s gazes met, seeing the unrestrainable joy in each other’s eyes.
After they had waited for half a month, Guyuan Heaven was finally beginning to open!
Chapter 1084 Grand Opening
Rumble!
When a loud rumble sounded from the seemingly endless clouds that covered Heaven Pillar Peak, the various factions below jerked their heads upwards and stared at the thick clouds in bewilderment and joy.
It was finally happening!
Under countless watching eyes, the thick cloud layer began to stir. A devastating storm of wind exploded from the spatial undulation, tearing everything in its path to pieces.
It was Heaven Pillar Peak’s infamous wind calamity!
“Raise the boundary!” Numerous shouts rang out from the endless line of camps at the mountain foot.
Boundary after boundary swiftly rose, nearly covering the entire sky.
The destructive windstorm slammed into the boundaries, quickly beginning to tear through. Fortunately, the many factions were well-prepared. More and more boundaries continued to rise, while experts began to unleash blasts of Genesis Qi to scatter the windstorm.
However, the windstorm seemed endless. Hence, the many factions did not dare to hold anything back as they continued to defend.
The originally calm foot of the mountain turned extremely busy for a time.
Boundaries also rose from the Tianyuan Region camp. Zhou Yuan raised his head, his expression turning somewhat grave as he observed the boundaries ripple violently. Even a Heavenly Sun expert would not last for long amidst such destructive power. Once one’s Genesis Qi was exhausted, one would be swiftly torn to pieces.
“It’s no wonder that no one dares to enter the Heaven Pillar Peak region…” Zhou Yuan sighed inwardly. Before the raw might of nature, even Nascent Source experts would have to be extremely wary. A practitioner would likely only be able to ignore such power when he or she stepped into the Law Domain stage.
Qin Lian could not help but mutter from the side, “I wonder how long it’ll last.”
Zhou Yuan concentrated on the bottomless spatial hole that had appeared in the cloud layer as the Saint Rune swirled deep in his eyes. He had activated the Decoder Saint Rune.
Pierce through!
The thick cloud layers gradually turned clear as the peak was reflected in his eyes. Nine imposing figures stood amidst the heavily distorted space. They appeared to be pouring out unimaginable power that was slowly ripping apart the fabric of space.
These should be Hunyuan Heaven's nine supreme sovereigns.
They were likely warping space to create a passageway into Guyuan Heaven, and the deadly windstorm had likely arisen due to their actions.
“The windstorm will stop when the nine supreme sovereigns open the spatial passage.” Zhou Yuan took a deep breath as a feverish look gradually covered his eyes. He was rather looking forward to the battle for Guyuan Heaven because only by interacting with more top-tier experts would he be able to grow more rapidly. He needed formidable foes as whetstones.
“Tell everyone to gather. The main event should be about to begin.”
Qin Lian immediately turned around to spread his order while Zhou Yuan continued to stare at the clouds with his hands behind his back.
Rumble!
Thunder boomed from deep within the cloud layer for the next two hours.
Just as the situation was becoming somewhat hellish for the various factions, the thunder gradually came to a stop. A majestic power suddenly unfurled, completely obliterating the devastating windstorm.
Even the thick layers of clouds that covered the peak all year round began to thin.
Countless people gazed towards Heaven Pillar Peak. Although it was too far to make out the scenery even after empowering their eyes with Genesis Qi, all of them could clearly feel nine terrifying presences from the peak.
The supreme sovereigns of the nine regions.
Right above the peak, a spatial door silently hummed.
Rumble!
The nine supreme sovereigns waved their sleeves as a loud noise boomed across the air. The spatial door slowly began to open, revealing a deep darkness that seemed to lead to a mysterious location.
Countless people stared at the opening door and were filled with anticipation, nervousness and fear of the unknown.
Bzz!
The surrounding Genesis Qi rapidly gathered outside the giant spatial door and gradually transformed into rainbow steps. The steps stretched downwards, but even the dreadful windstorm was unable to shake them.
“Hunyuan Heaven Law Domain experts, ascend and enter Guyuan!” a deep voice boomed, and figure after figure appeared on the steps like phantoms. These figures seemed to rapidly teleport, appearing outside the spatial door after a few blinks.
Zhou Yuan gazed at the figures that gave off terrifying auras before pausing on a tall and slender individual.
Short wine-red hair danced in the wind, giving her a heroic and valiant air.
It was his senior sister, Chi Jing.
Sect master Xuan Kun and clan leader Bian Chang could be seen beside her. Grand elder Mu Ni had not come because a Law Domain expert still needed to be stationed at the Tianyuan Region.
As she stood before the spatial door, Chi Jing seemed to sense his gaze. She swept a glance towards him and displayed a smile as she transmitted a faint voice, “Little junior brother, be extra careful in Guyuan Heaven.”
Zhou Yuan nodded and softly said, “Senior sister Chi Jing, you should also be careful. I look forward to your safe return.”
Under countless respectful gazes, the force that was second only to the Saints stepped into the door and disappeared.
Countless onlookers cupped their fists and bowed. In a certain manner of speaking, all of them were fighting for Hunyuan Heaven.
“Hunyuan Heaven Nascent Source experts! Enter Guyuan!” After the Law Domain experts’ departure, the booming voice rang out once more. This time, the surrounding Genesis Qi abruptly began to boil as streaks of light dashed into the sky and landed on the rainbow steps.
Every figure gave off powerful Genesis Qi undulations as they walked up the steps.
There were far more Nascent Source experts than Law Domain experts. In addition, practically every individual present was an elite of the Nascent Source
stage and very famous in Hunyuan Heaven.
Hence, they looked far more impressive than the Law Domain experts.
Numerous Heavenly Sun experts looked towards them in yearning. Compared to the somewhat unreachable Law Domain stage, the Nascent Source stage was obviously a much more practical goal. The biggest goal of most of the Heavenly Sun experts was to find an opportunity to advance to the Nascent Source stage in Guyuan Heaven.
“Hunyuan Heaven Heavenly Sun experts!” After the Nascent Source experts left, it was finally the biggest group’s turn, the Heavenly Sun experts.
Rumble!
The scale was shocking. Countless streaks of light instantly soared into the sky like fireworks, densely packed together like a swarm of locusts.
Zhou Yuan and Qin Lian were no exception. They immediately rose into the air while the several-thousand-strong team of Tianyuan Region Heavenly Sun elites followed behind them.
Countless figures landed on the rainbow steps. From far away, it looked as if ants were climbing a stairway into the heavens. As they gradually approached, the Heavenly Sun experts finally realized how humongous the spatial door was. Under the towering door, all of them felt akin to ants.
In the sky above, nine imposing silhouettes could be seen. They gave off an endless pressure that could shake even the earth itself.
The Heavenly Sun experts bowed towards the nine imposing figures, showing their respect.
Zhou Yuan also bowed, and a voice sounded in his ear, “Little junior brother, be very cautious in Guyuan Heaven. If you encounter a strong foe, know when to retreat to avoid defeat. The overall amount of ancestral qi in the Heavenly Sun level is merely a small portion of the whole, and it will not be a huge issue if the Sacred Race ultimately becomes the victor. Remember that where there is life, there is hope, and there will always be another chance in the future.”
Zhou Yuan’s body froze a little as a warm feeling flowed in his heart. He gently nodded in Zhuan Zhu’s direction.
However, he understood that Zhuan Zhu was not being completely honest. Even if it was only a struggle between the Heavenly Sun experts from the various Heavens, the Heavenly Sun level still contained twenty percent of Guyuan Heaven’s ancestral qi. That was no small portion. Zhuan Zhu merely did not wish for Zhou Yuan to take overly risky actions.
The battle for Guyuan Heaven affected all the Heavens of Tianyuan World. There was no exception.
“Let’s go.” Zhou Yuan tilted his head towards Qin Lian and the others, who looked tense and nervous, before taking a deep breath. He took the lead and stepped forward, entering the giant spatial door.
Behind him, the giant group of Hunyuan Heaven Heavenly Sun teams also flooded in.
From this very moment, the ancestral qi battle that affected all Tianyuan World’s nine Heavens had finally begun. It would be an event that far surpassed everything Zhou Yuan had experienced before.
Chapter 1085 Earth Disaster
It was an extremely ancient land.
A desolate air filled the land. Crude-looking boulders were randomly scattered across the earth. In the distance, numerous unimaginable, tall mountains were towering over the land like giants. A cracked, broken sun hung high in the sky, sprinkling sunlight that was not warm but a little cold.
Wind howled across the land, making rocks tumble and sand fly.
The entire world was akin to primordial land.
Bzz!
Amidst the bleakness, space suddenly began to distort, ultimately forming a giant spatial door. The door rippled as countless figures flew out like locusts.
These figures naturally belonged to the Hunyuan Heaven teams.
Numerous people flew out of the door and landed on a barren plains, immediately chasing away the desolate atmosphere.
Innumerable gazes curiously observed the surrounding land as whispers began to spread.
On a certain spot on the plains, Zhou Yuan glanced at Qin Lian and said, “Do a headcount and keep your guard up at all times.”
Qin Lian nodded in acknowledgment and proceeded to carry out the instructions. She swiftly gathered all of the scattered Tianyuan Region team.
As the team gathered, Zhou Yuan’s gaze swept over the unfamiliar land. He first gauged the Genesis Qi concentration, and his brows instantly raised in surprise. The concentration was several times greater than the Tianyuan Utopia.
More importantly, there seemed to be some kind of ancient and primordial aura in the Genesis Qi.
Zhou Yuan could feel his Divine Dwelling faintly vibrating. The Genesis Qi in his body seemed to cheer in joy, a sign of its desire for the surrounding Genesis Qi.
“Legends says that Guyuan Heaven was born from a fragment of the Ancestral Dragon. It seems that this does hold some truth to it.” Zhou Yuan sighed inwardly. It had taken master Cang Yuan a herculean effort to create a cultivation paradise like the Tianyuan Utopia, but it was still much more inferior to Guyuan Heaven. Even without any blessings or opportunities, a place like this would tremendously benefit anyone who cultivated here.
“Such concentrated Genesis Qi!”
“I can already feel my Genesis Qi growing a little after a single breath!”
“This is an amazing treasure land!”
“......”
The various factions also realized how special the Genesis Qi was, and countless excited voices cried out in amazement. Some individuals even sat down and began absorbing the surrounding Genesis Qi.
The place turned rather chaotic for a time.
On the Tianyuan Region side, several of the unaffiliated cultivators began to stir restlessly. Their usual training conditions were below average. Such a cultivation paradise would tempt even the members of the nine regions, let alone unaffiliated cultivators like them.
However, just as they were about to sit down to cultivate, Zhou Yuan’s stern gaze suddenly swept over them as he shouted, “Guyuan Heaven is filled with danger, now is not the time to relax!”
The unaffiliated cultivators somewhat disagreed to Zhou Yuan’s scolding, but they ultimately did not disobey his orders. They could only hold themselves back for the moment. However, it was clear that they were very unhappy with him.
Just as Zhou Yuan was about to speak again, his Spirit suddenly sensed a faint movement.
Underground?
Zhou Yuan’s pupils shrank slightly as he shouted, “Careful!”
Rumble!
The plains suddenly began to shudder violently the instant the word left his lips, as if an earth dragon was rolling about below. Everyone watched in alarm and shock as the originally solid ground turned into mud. A giant vortex formed, swallowing the figures who had sat down to cultivate.
Countless tiny spikes reached out from the mud, piercing the bodies trapped within it.
Shrieks and screams rang out.
Everyone’s scalps turned numb as they watched the bodies begin to disintegrate, turning into dust that swiftly scattered into the wind.
Thump! Thump!
Strange mud figures began leaping out from the mud vortex. They looked tough and powerful, as if they were made from rock instead of mud. The mud creatures frantically swarmed out and pounced into the crowd. Their victims were cleanly devoured and rapidly digested into pure Genesis Qi, leaving not even a single bone.
The sudden turn of events greatly alarmed everyone.
“It's an Earth Disaster!” Zhou Yuan watched the chaos unfurl with a grave expression. An Earth Disaster was one of the strangest and most unfathomable dangers in Guyuan Heaven.
It was said that the land in Guyuan Heaven possessed some kind of consciousness of its own that chased after existences that had strong Genesis Qi. It would devour these existences, decompose them back into Genesis Qi and feed it back to Guyuan Heaven.
Hence, the terrain in Guyuan Heaven could change at any moment. Plains could turn into muddy swamps, tall mountains into bottomless abysses… Anyone who fell in would soon be swiftly decomposed.
This was the phenomenon
known as Earth Disaster.
Due to this bizarre phenomenon, a single second was all it would take for a safe mountain cave to turn into a burial ground. To be more precise, even one’s bones would be decomposed in Guyuan Heaven.
Danger lurked at every step.
The strange mud figures were earth creatures born from the Earth Disaster. They did not have minds of their own, and they were driven only by the instinct of devouring lifeforms that possessed Genesis Qi.
An Earth Disaster was extremely terrifying. Even powerful practitioners like Zhou Yuan and the others would succumb at the slightest negligence.
Fortunately, the Earth Disaster they currently faced did not seem to be the worst kind.
The chaos caused by the Earth Disaster did not last for long. After the various factions’ initial panic, the factions swiftly returned to their senses. Everyone quickly created distance from the vortex before sending out a barrage of Genesis Qi, blasting the earth creatures back to mud.
After half an incense stick of time, the giant mud vortex slowly began to recede, and the ground returned to its original state. Several individuals were still unconvinced and sent out yet another barrage of attacks, but all it did was leave several craters in the ground.
It was as if everything had merely been an illusion.
However, the remnant fear and alarm on countless people’s faces told everyone that the earlier events had indeed transpired.
The sudden danger made many people clear-headed. Although this was a cultivation paradise, it was also filled with fatal danger. Anyone who lost their caution would likely not be far from death.
Zhou Yuan glanced at the unaffiliated cultivators who had wanted to cultivate, and said, “It’s likely that the Earth Disaster had occurred because too many of us had appeared all at once, creating a strong fluctuation in the Genesis Qi.”
Under his gaze, ashamed looks arose on the unaffiliated cultivators. No one dared to meet his eyes. There was now more respect in everyone’s eyes when they looked towards Zhou Yuan.
“We’re fortunate to have you with us.” Qin Lian sighed. More than a hundred people had died earlier. They had only managed to swiftly avoid the Earth Disaster due to Zhou Yuan’s timely warning.
Dragon Prince Yuan c1-1251 Page 560