“Zhou Yuan of the Tianyuan Region is indeed quite capable...”
“It is said that his Divine Dwellings have only opened up to the seventh dwelling. Once he connects through to the ninth Divine Dwelling, how strong would his Genesis Qi foundation be?”
“He mustn’t be underestimated.”
“......”
At the forefront of the many disciples, Xue Jingtao withdrew his gaze. Compared to the others, who were gasping in astonishment, he appeared much more indifferent.
“Oh, senior brother Xue, what do you think of Zhou Yuan?” someone asked with a smile.
Xue Jingtao smiled. “He isn’t weak, but it isn’t that easy to stand out in the nine regions tournament.”
“Does senior brother Xue have the confidence to defeat him?” someone asked curiously.
Xue Jingtao simply smiled. Although he didn’t answer the question, the arrogance contained in his smile revealed his answer. As a result, all the surrounding disciples all sighed in admiration and began complimenting him.
Xue Jingtao waved his hand and said in a modest voice, “I am nothing compared to junior sister Youwei.”
His gaze shifted to his right, where a graceful figure stood up and walked down the walkway toward him. It was Su Youwei.
Xue Jingtao discovered a joyful smile on Su Youwei’s beautiful face.
His heart fluttered, and when Su Youwei was near, he said with a smile, “Given junior sister Youwei’s strength, this battle must be a little boring.”
Su Youwei shook her head. “Zhou Yuan of the Tianyuan Region has extraordinary potential. If he can connect all nine Divine Dwellings, only a handful of people in the nine regions tournament stand a chance against him. Even I don’t have much confidence in winning.
“So, senior brother Xue, you shouldn’t misjudge people. Otherwise, you'll get into trouble, and I won’t be able to save you.”
She spoke gently, but her voice contained an underlying warning. After speaking, she strode away, leaving Xue Jingtao standing there stiffly.
....
The match between Zhou Yuan and Chen Xuandong had created a lot of waves in the Hunyuan Heaven. Many people realized that the Tianyuan Region’s foundation wasn’t weak despite deteriorating over the years.
However, there were more people commenting that the battle didn’t reveal anything. Everything still depended on the nine regions tournament.
If the Tianyuan Region still ranked last in the upcoming nine regions tournament, all this would mean nothing. After all, the Tianyuan region was one of the nine regions and needed to follow the examples of the other top forces, not lower its status to compare itself with the Tri-Mountain Alliance.
The nine regions tournament was the real measuring stone!
The battle between Zhou Yuan and Chen Xuandong seemed to be the prelude to the war amongst the top heaven prides of Hunyuan Heaven.
Chapter 915 Great Rivals
As the after-effects of the battle between Zhou Yuan and Chen Xuandong created more and more waves in Hunyuan Heaven, Zhou Yuan, as the instigator, once again kept a low profile and rarely showed himself in Tianyuan Utopia. This disappointed many people who had recently come to Tianyuan Utopia.
The chief pavilion master’s residence.
Zhou Yuan was leisurely lying on the roof of the building and basking in the sun, but his expression wasn’t relaxed because he was reading a scroll in his hand.
It was the latest version of the Divine Dwelling List, and the only change from the previous one was that he had risen to ninth place.
The nine regions tournament had become the most popular topic in Hunyuan Heaven. It was a true grand event that countless forces across the Hunyuan Heaven would be paying attention to. After all, it was, in a sense, a competition among the nine regions. Although it was a competition of only the Divine Dwelling stage, it was a competition of the pinnacle of the Divine Dwelling stage.
Perhaps the Divine Dwelling stage wasn’t worth mentioning compared to the Nascent Source stage and the Law Domain stage, but everyone was aware of its importance because it represented new blood.
A stronger Divine Dwelling expert had a higher possibility of advancing further in the future. They were the most fundamental foundation of every sect and faction. Even the nine regions dared not underestimate them.
To cultivate the heaven prides who were now ranked at the top of the Divine Dwelling List, the nine regions presumably invested a lot of time and energy into them.
For example, Su Youwei. To collect seedlings with remarkable talents, the Zixiao Region had sent people to the Cangxuan Heaven to find them. From this, it was clear how much effort they had invested.
Zhou Yuan carefully studied the eight names ranked above him. In truth, besides the name, the Divine Dwelling List didn’t reveal much information. But for some reason, he vaguely felt a sense of oppression. Although he didn’t want to admit it, he felt that the Tianyuan Region had indeed been separated from the other eight regions over the years.
This was clearly shown on the Divine Dwelling List.
As for the Heavenly Sun List and the Nascent Source List, the situation was a little better. After all, anyone ranked on those lists had been training for an extended period of time, and once they occupied a position, they would most likely keep it for decades, or even hundreds of years. The Divine Dwelling List most frequently changed, and from that, the weakness and deteriorating state of the Tianyuan Region could be clearly observed.
Wanzu Region, Zhao Mushen.
Wushen Region, Wu Yao.
Zixiao Region, Su Youwei.
Xuehai Region, Wang Xi.
Shengwen Region, Li Tongshen.
Xuanji Region, Jiu Gong.
Yaogui Region, Xu Ming.
Yushou Region, Yuan Kun.
These were the people ranked in the top eight. Every one of them had established a remarkable reputation in Hunyuan Heaven. They were the heaven prides carefully cultivated by the other eight regions. Even Chen Xuandong was incredibly lacking compared to them.
They were the great enemies that Zhou Yuan would face in the nine regions tournament.
After all, Zhou Yuan's goal was to win first place. In truth, he didn’t want to show off, but he had no other choice because he had to get his hands on the Ancestral Dragon Lantern.
“It's so troublesome.” Zhou Yuan sighed. Even he felt pressure facing those eight people. Even if he had refined the four runes and discovered their second form, it still wasn’t enough to defeat them.
Especially the top three.
Although he didn’t know what Su Youwei felt towards him now, he would clash with Zhao Mushen and Wu Yao in the nine regions tournament.
However, it wasn’t that Zhou Yuan didn’t have any strong points. He still hadn’t unlocked his true potential in the Divine Dwelling stage. Those ranked in the top had already connected all nine Divine Dwellings, allowing them to possess tyrannical strength. But this also showed that their potential in the Divine Dwelling stage had reached its limit.
To further improve their Genesis Qi foundation after opening up all nine Divine Dwellings, they would need a greater opportunity, which meant investing greater effort and energy.
Without enough opportunities, their Genesis Qi foundation would only increase a little or remain the same for a long period of time!
To move forward one step at the end of a hundred steps was always the most difficult!
But at this juncture, as long as one could make further progress, the return would be ten times, or even a hundred times, greater once you reached the Heavenly Sun stage.
Fortunately, Zhou Yuan hadn’t reached his full potential in the Divine Dwelling stage. Once he opened up the final two Divine Dwellings, his strength would undoubtedly skyrocket, and the gap between him and the others would be pulled infinitely close.
While Zhou Yuan was studying the names on the Divine Dwelling list, the void in front of him rippled, and a formidable figure emerged.
“You're so relaxed. You’re now a celebrity in the Tianyuan Region,” Chi Jing said.
Zhou Yuan pursed his lips. “What celebrity? If I don’t perform well in the nine regions tournament and we still rank at the bottom, I will instantly fall from the clouds and be condemned by everyone.”
The higher you climbed, the more painful it would be when you fell.
Chi Jing smiled. “You’ve read the situation thoroughly, and you don't seem too arrogant.”
She glanced at the Divine Dwelling List in Zhou Yuan’s hand and fiddled with her short burgundy hair. She jokingly said, “What? Scared of your opponents? It’s not too late to regret it now.”
Zhou Yuan smiled. “Didn’t I come to the Hunyuan Heaven for this?”
It had been more than a year since he came to the Tianyuan Region. He hadn’t rested at all during this period of time and had been constantly working hard.
Tired? He must be tired. But Zhou Yuan had never thought of giving up. Whenever the thought of Yaoyao lying in that cold glass ice coffin came to his mind, the piercing pain in his heart covered up all the fatigue.
In the past, it had always been Yaoyao who protected him, but now it was time for him to do something for her.
Looking at Zhou Yuan's face, Chi Jing could feel the emotions in his eyes. She witnessed all of Zhou Yuan’s efforts, so she knew there was a story behind it but didn’t ask about it.
“Since the Tri-Mountain Alliance dared to provoke the Tianyuan Region, they must have someone powerful leading them.” Chi Jing’s beautiful jade-like face grew solemn.
The smile on Zhou Yuan’s face faded. To command a top force such as the Tri-Mountain Alliance to act as pawns, the person had to be incredibly powerful. But there were only a handful of people who had such an ability in the entire Hunyuan Heaven.
“Do you know who it is?” Zhou Yuan asked.
Chi Jing shook her head. “It's hard to guess. Their actions are nothing more than attempts to force our master to appear.”
Zhou Yuan narrowed his eyes. If they wanted to force their master to show up, there was a high possibility that Yaoyao was involved since he knew that the biggest reason for master Cang Yuan to hide for many years was Yaoyao.
Yaoyao’s identity was too mysterious and involved a great deal. Even supreme existences in Hunyuan Heaven were plotting because of this.
“It seems that I must win first place in the nine regions tournament and get the Ancestral Dragon Lantern.”
His identity shouldn’t have been exposed yet; otherwise, those powerful beings would have done something to him already. After all, he was just a little Divine Dwelling expert. Therefore, he needed to win the nine regions tournament and the Ancestral Dragon Lantern before anybody realizes!
As long as the Ancestral Dragon Lantern was in his hands, his first mission of coming to Hunyuan Heaven would be considered successful. If there was any danger, he could ask Chi Jing to send him out of Hunyuan Heaven first.
Chi Jing nodded. “I am just worried that since their plan failed this time, their future attacks will be even more intense.”
“It's inevitable, so senior sister has to be prepared and be more careful in the future,” Zhou Yuan calmly said. In such a level of struggle, they wouldn’t give up easily.
The two looked at each other, their expressions solemn. They obviously felt a great deal of pressure. Even Chi Jing, an expert of the Law Domain, felt a little powerless in a game of this level, let alone Zhou Yuan, a little Divine Dwelling expert.
Fortunately, they both knew that as long as Cang Yuan was still around, the other party wouldn’t dare to do too much. Otherwise, they would need to pay an unbearable price.
Chi Jing let out a sigh and didn’t want to linger on this serious topic any longer. She suddenly asked, “How much do you know about the nine regions tournament?”
Zhou Yuan shook his head. “Isn’t it just a match among the heaven prides of the Divine Dwelling stage in the nine regions?”
Chi Jing rolled her eyes and said, “You mustn’t underestimate the nine regions tournament. It symbolizes the greatest opportunity of the Divine Dwelling stage. It can be described as a once in a lifetime opportunity for ambitious people like you.
“By the way, do you know about the Alpha Spiritium?”
Chapter 916 Alpha Spiritium
“Alpha Spiritium?”
This name sounded somewhat unfamiliar to Zhou Yuan. He pondered for a moment before he responded, “I heard that when all Divine Dwellings are unlocked, they will form a connection with heaven and earth and draw upon a special substance. That substance is called Spiritium.
“Anyone who wants to break through to the Heavenly Sun stage will need to absorb this substance”
He looked at Chi Jing and asked, “The Alpha Spiritium should be something similar, right?”
“You do know a little.” Chi Jing smiled.
“In the way of cultivation, every stage is divided into different grades. Even the Qi Nourishing stage, the opening of the sea of qi, is divided into grades.
“Then there is the Divine Dwelling stage, which is divided into nine levels and ranks.
“There are numerous difficulties on the path of cultivation, and to reach the pinnacle, one must reach the limit in every cultivation stage.
“The so-called Heavenly Sun stage is when the Divine Dwellings within one’s body are perfectly polished, and the Genesis Qi stars are gathered in the Divine Dwellings to form a Genesis Qi sun. It is boundless and extremely fierce and is therefore called the Heavenly Sun.
“But to form this heavenly sun, one needs the natural substance of the universe known as the Spiritium.”
“The Heavenly Sun stage is also divided into different grades. The highest is the glass Heavenly Sun, which symbolizes purity and flawlessness, followed by the purple-gold Heavenly Sun, the silver-snow Heavenly Sun, and of course the most common crimson-red Heavenly Sun.”
A look of surprise crossed Zhou Yuan's face. He didn’t expect there to be such a grading system in the Heavenly Sun stage.
“Once the crimson-red Heavenly Sun is formed, one’s Genesis Qi foundation, in terms of Genesis Qi stars, will reach 100 million!
“The silver-snow Heavenly Sun is 200 million, the purple-gold Heavenly Sun is 300 million, and the glass Heavenly Sun is 400 million!”
Zhou Yuan was indeed a little dumbfounded. Four hundred million Genesis Qi stars? What a terrifying foundation. Even the worst of the Heavenly Sun stage had a foundation of 100 million Genesis Qi stars? A new Heavenly Sun stage expert was that much more powerful than a Divine Dwelling stage expert?
Chi Jing cast a glance at Zhou Yuan and said indifferently, “Why do you think Zhao Mushen and Wu Yao, top heaven prides, would stay at the pinnacle of the Divine Dwelling stage for so long? It’s because they are too ambitious, and ordinary Heavenly Suns can’t satisfy them. Therefore, their goal is at least the purple-gold Heavenly Sun. If it weren’t for this, they would have broken through to the Heavenly Sun stage long ago.”
Zhou Yuan's expression grew solemn. He was familiar with this kind of operation because back in the Cangxuan Heaven, the Chosen of each sect would also constantly accumulate strength at the peak of the Alpha-Origin stage in the hope of opening up more Divine Dwellings once they stepped into the Divine Dwelling stage. They did so in the hope that their potential in the future would be greater.
“If you want to refine a purple-gold Heavenly sun or glass Heavenly Sun, could it be that you would need this kind of Alpha Spiritium?”
Chi Jing nodded. “You also must have opened up nine Divine Dwellings. Otherwise, even if you have the Alpha Spiritium, it will be useless.”
Zhou Yuan shuddered inwardly. If he couldn’t open up nine Divine Dwellings in the Divine Dwelling stage, it would mean his future cultivation path would narrow and eventually be blocked. He would be unable to see the next cultivation stage unless
he found some heaven-defying opportunity.
To reach the pinnacle state, you must ensure that you reach the limit in every cultivation stage. Once you missed a step at any level, it would be difficult to remedy the mistake.
The difficulty was too great, and the journey of cultivation was indeed too cruel.
Fortunately, although Zhou Yuan had faced numerous difficulties during his cultivation training, he had never made a mistake, whether it was in the Qi Nourishing stage, Alpha-Origin stage or the Divine Dwelling stage.
He felt very fortunate. All this was because Yaoyao had strict requirements for him. Otherwise, his foundation wouldn’t have been so stable.
Chi Jing continued, “Alpha Spiritium is extremely rare. It is a substance formed from the accumulation of the essence between heaven and earth. In ordinary times, it would be difficult to find even a little in 100 years.”
Zhou Yuan's eyes flashed. “Could there be Alpha Spiritium at the nine regions tournament?”
Chi Jing smiled. “Yes, the venue for the nine regions tournament is called the Fallen Abyss, an ancient battlefield from ancient times. Countless experts have perished there, and even dozens of Law Domain experts have lost their lives there!
“When Law Domain experts fall, their Law Domains crumble between heaven and earth, causing chaos to the rules of the world. As for the Law Domains that crumbled and interwove in the Fallen Abyss, they eventually formed an extremely dangerous forbidden land. But it is in such a forbidden land that a great opportunity is born— Alpha Spiritium.
“Zhao Mushen, Wu Yao and the others are most likely waiting for this day. As long as they get enough Alpha Spiritium, they can use it to refine a purple-gold or even a glass Heavenly Sun and set foot into the Heavenly Sun stage!
“They're all incredibly ambitious people because their goals are most likely not just the Heavenly Sun stage. They are aiming for the Nascent Source stage or even the Law Domain!”
“If you are also ambitious, you can’t miss this rare opportunity in the Hunyuan Heaven,” Chi Jing reminded.
Dragon Prince Yuan c1-1251 Page 479
