The teams marched to the center of the hall, took out a copper mirror and left it on the counter.
A person in black behind the counter received the copper mirror and folded one hand in a seal. Specks of light rose from the mirror. They were Spirit light fragments. When one’s Spirit was destroyed, it would turn into light fragments.
The light fragments fell on the copper mirror and turned into an illusory face.
It was the enemy killed.
“One hundred war credit points for an initial Heavenly Sun expert.” The man in black took out a jade seal and gently pressed it on the copper mirror. The number 420 flashed on the mirror.
The copper mirror’s owner put away the copper mirror with a satisfied grin.
“Brothers, let’s go for a drink and relax.” He laughed and led the team behind him to another area of the hall. It was the resting area where teams that had just returned from their missions could rest, chat loudly and exchange information.
In the resting area.
Ye Bingling, Yi Qiushui, Mu Liu and others were seated around a table in the corner.
“I heard from my grandfather today that another dozen people from the Four Pavilion were killed,” Yi Qiushui said slowly, looking a little upset.
Ye Bingling, Mu Liu and the others clenched their fists, then lifted their cups of wine and gulped them down with melancholic expressions.
“Crimson Cloud Sword Sect, Tri-Mountain Alliance and the others all deserve to die. We should have removed them from Hunyuan Heaven long ago!” Frost covered Ye Bingling’s pretty face, and killing intent flashed in her eyes.
The Four Pavilions’ members were considered Divine Dwelling stage elites in the Tianyuan Region. Therefore, they shouldered many responsibilities in the war, and the price they paid was the loss of their people every day. Moreover, many were people whom Yi Qiushui and Ye Bingling knew.
They finally realized the cruelty of war.
The others didn’t speak, but the killing intent in their eyes was undisguised.
Many people were drinking and cursing in other parts of the resting area. The majority scolded the Tri-Mountain Alliance, and some sobbed bitterly while clasping a wine bottle.
Amidst the clamor and noise, an angry voice rang out, “Hmph, we are fighting with our lives, but the little grand elder used closed-door cultivation as an excuse to avoid the war!”
“Who says he isn’t!? Grand elder Chi Jing and Zhuan Zhu are also supreme sovereign Cang Yuan’s official disciples, but they have accompanied supreme sovereign Cang Yuan to many tragic massacres and have been through countless brutal battles. They have done outstanding military service. It was only because of them that the Tianyuan Region now has its current territories. But that little grand elder is too lucky. He said he’s going into closed-door cultivation, but he has disappeared for more than three months. Even Zhao Mushen and the others have completed their breakthrough. Would he really not have finished?”
“I think he's afraid of joining the war, fearing an accident will happen!”
“His identity is superior to ours. Who could take responsibility if something happens to him?”
Cold sneering voices rang out one after another, each one filled with resentment, jealousy and anger.
“Hmph, it’s hard to say whether his identity is true and perhaps grand elder Chi Jing told him to pretend to be supreme sovereign Cang Yuan’s disciple to reassure the citizens. Otherwise, how could supreme sovereign Cang Yuan pay any attention to him?”
The hall echoed with laughter.
Yi Qiushui’s face turned livid when she heard those words. “Those Heavenly Sun experts have gone too far!”
They naturally had heard the rumors, but they didn’t take it seriously before. It was now getting worse, and coupled with the immense pressure they had been under in the war, they couldn’t control themselves anymore.
She stood up and directly walked over to the group of Heavenly Sun experts laughing. “You dare insult a grand elder in public?”
The Heavenly Sun experts turned their heads and swept a glance over her. They didn’t dare to scold her because they recognized she was Yi Yan’s granddaughter. They all lowered their heads.
It was then that a burst of laughter sounded behind them.
“Miss Qiushui, we fight with our lives every day, and we might not be able to sit here tomorrow. So, it isn’t a crime to say a few words, is it?”
Yi Qiushui turned to see several Heavenly Spirit Sect experts sitting there, and the one in the center was the former chief pavilion master Li Qingyue.
When the others heard his words, their expressions grew serious, and their temper flared. They turned around and continued their previous topic. Li Qingyue was right. They might not survive tomorrow, so who cared who they offended?
Seeing everyone ignore her completely, Yi Qiushui clenched her fists, and her body trembled in fury.
However, amidst the noise, a slender young figure walked into the War Service Hall.
The hall suddenly went silent, and the laughter and banter suddenly stopped when that figure appeared. Everyone cast indescribable gazes at the familiar face.
The laughing Heavenly Sun experts also stopped abruptly, each wearing a different expression because the figure that had walked into the hall was the person they were mocking.
It was Zhou Yuan, who was nicknamed ‘little grand elder’.
Chapter 1009 War Service Hall
Zhou Yuan stepped into the War Service Hall, looking at the numerous eyes gazing at him, and could feel a strange, quiet atmosphere. However, he maintained a calm expression as he swept a glance around the room, then headed towards the resting area.
In the resting area, the Heavenly Sun experts’ expressions changed unnaturally when they saw Zhou Yuan. Although they had spoken disrespectfully about Zhou Yuan moments ago, Zhou Yuan’s status in the Tianyuan Region was undeniably high.
Even if he had declined the grand elder position, he was still supreme sovereign Cang Yuan’s official disciple.
Therefore, even the elders of the Tianyuan Region’s Elder Committee had to be polite to him, let alone Heavenly Sun experts. They could criticize Zhou Yuan in secret, but they wouldn’t dare to slight Zhou Yuan in front of him.
However, they had the pride of typical Heavenly Sun experts and didn’t want to reveal a trace of fear in front of Zhou Yuan. Therefore, they all stood tense, blankly watching Zhou Yuan as he approached, thinking about how they should respond to Zhou Yuan’s scolding.
Amidst their gazes, Zhou Yuan arrived at the resting area.
However, while the Heavenly Sun experts held their breath and waited to see how Zhou Yuan was going to get angry, Zhou Yuan didn’t even glance at them. Instead, Zhou Yuan waved to a table of people in the corner with a smile.
“Zhou Yuan!”
A surprised smile lit up Yi Qiushui’s face, and she, Ye Bingling and Mu Liu simultaneously sprang to their feet.
“You’re out? Did you break through?” Yi Qiushui asked curiously. She then immediately swept a glance over the Heavenly Sun experts wearing unnatural expressions in the resting area and whispered, “Just ignore them.”
It would affect Zhou Yuan’s reputation greatly if he got into a conflict with them.
Zhou Yuan smiled. He, of course, had no intention of explaining himself to them. Even if he had clearly heard their words, it wasn’t in his character to bring out his identity as supreme sovereign Cang Yuan’s disciple to oppress others.
Although their words were unpleasant to hear, they also risked their lives to fight for the Tianyuan Region.
In a way, perhaps, they were also fighting for the Ancestral Dragon Lantern.
Therefore, thinking about it in this way, Zhou Yuan didn’t intend to get angry at them because ultimately, they were simply ignorant and jealous of him.
Before Zhou Yuan said anything, a laugh sounded behind him. “Haha, little grand elder Zhou Yuan, everyone is under too much pressure and has drunk t
oo much today, so they said the wrong thing. Please be the bigger person and don’t take offense.”
Zhou Yuan turned around and saw Li Qingyue, the former chief pavilion master.
Although Li Qingyue seemed to be trying to excuse the other Heavenly Sun experts, he did not seem to have good intentions by speaking up in such a time and place.
As expected, every Heavenly Sun experts’ face reddened with anger. Be the bigger person? When we became well known in the Tianyuan Region, Zhou Yuan didn’t even exist yet! They made up their minds and decided that if Zhou Yuan dared to do anything to them, they would make a scene and see how he would clean up the mess!
Zhou Yuan cast a glance at the smiling Li Qingyue and said indifferently, “Just call me chief pavilion master. This is, after all, an unusual period, and the several grand elders are letting me keep the chief pavilion master position for a little longer. So, don’t call me little grand elder yet.”
Stung by Zhou Yuan’s words, Li Qingyue forced a smile, his face twitching visibly. “Chief pavilion master has such a good life. I didn’t think you could change the rules.”
There was undisguisable jealousy in his eyes. Back when he broke through to the Heavenly Sun stage, he was immediately removed from the chief pavilion master position and lost the high and mighty status similar to an elder’s. However, the rules changed when it was Zhou Yuan’s turn.
Zhou Yuan simply ignored him because he could tell that Li Qingyue had come to create trouble, and the best way to deal with people like him was to ignore them.
He turned to say to Yi Qiushui and the others, “Help me select some elites from the Four Pavilions to form a team.”
Yi Qiushui was taken aback for a moment before she asked, “You want to participate in the war?”
After the initial large-scale battles between the Tianyuan Region and the top five forces, both sides had adopted small scale invasions. Small groups, like hunters, searched everywhere to look for enemies.
The many Heavenly Sun experts in the resting area also killed enemies in a similar way to gain war credit.
But those hunting-like attacks were extremely dangerous, and once one encountered an enemy, one party was bound to be killed. It was a brutal and cruel method.
In general, Divine Dwelling experts were used as scouts, spies and even cannon fodder. Therefore, a powerful Heavenly Sun expert was always chosen as their captain to help them earn war credits.
But the hunting area was extremely dangerous for initial Heavenly Sun experts, and the Heavenly Sun experts who had lost their lives so far were all at that level. Only when one was at the intermediate Heavenly Sun stage would one have the power to protect themselves and hunt for enemies.
Even if Zhou Yuan had made a successful breakthrough, he was still only at the initial Heavenly Sun stage, which meant it would be extremely dangerous for him to enter the hunting area.
Therefore, when Zhou Yuan said those words, not only had Yi Qiushui paled, even Li Qingyue and other Heavenly Sun experts had cast strange gazes at Zhou Yuan.
“Is the bounty list over there?” Zhou Yuan pointed to the center of the War Service Hall.
Yi Qiushui and Ye Bingling were both horrorstruck by his words. The bounty list? Zhou Yuan wants to look for prey on the bounty list? Those listed on the bounty list were all powerful enemies who had killed several Heavenly Sun experts.
Li Qingyue’s and the other Heavenly Sun experts’ pupils shrank. They looked at Zhou Yuan like they were looking at a lunatic.
Is this guy crazy?
Could it be that he is so eager to prove himself after all those rumors? But that isn’t proving himself—he is looking for death!
Li Qingyue had also hunted those on the bounty list, and every one of those battles was full of danger. If he had been slightly careless, the person walking out alive could have been his target. Even the thought of those battles made Li Qingyue tremble uncontrollably.
Even he found the enemies on the bounty list difficult to deal with, so how would Zhou Yuan fare?
Even if Zhou Yuan had broken through to the Heavenly Sun stage, he was still only an initial Heavenly Sun expert. There were three different levels in the Heavenly Sun stage, each differing vastly from the others. Those who made it onto the bounty list were all at or above the intermediate Heavenly Sun stage.
A lot of whispering broke out in the resting area, and many people cast puzzled gazes onto Zhou Yuan.
However, Zhou Yuan paid no attention to their strange gazes and said nothing more. Under countless watchful eyes, he strode to the counter in the center of the hall.
Ye Bingling and Yi Qiushui exchanged a glance with each other, then hurriedly followed.
What is Zhou Yuan doing?
Chapter 1010 Bounty List
As Zhou Yuan came to the counter in the center, many people in the War Service Hall fixed their eyes on him.
A puzzled and ruminative expression crept into their eyes.
The little grand elder who rose to terrifying fame recently in the Tianyuan Region intended to take a task from the bounty list?
Interesting...the Heavenly Sun experts present all knew how troublesome the targets on the bounty list were. Moreover, many Heavenly Sun experts from the Tianyuan Region had died in their hands.
The little grand elder should have broken through to the Heavenly Sun stage. Otherwise, even if he is the so-called strongest Divine Dwelling expert, he would be nothing but cannon fodder when he steps onto the battlefield.
He, at most, would be at the initial Heavenly Sun stage and have the ability to protect himself. As for hunting down opponents on the bounty list, there is no chance he would succeed.
In the hall, several sharp-minded Heavenly Sun experts’ gazes collided. They knew what the little grand elder planned. The recent rumors must have brought him immense pressure and trouble, so he came to prove himself by hunting down powerful enemies.
It was a pragmatic approach, but...it was highly dangerous.
A little carelessness could lead to the little grand elder being buried in the battlefield, and at that time, what trouble would it bring for no reason?
Many people whispered in the War Service Hall. The majority of the Heavenly Sun experts indifferently watched the scene, suspecting the little grand elder to be pretending, and they expected someone to come out to block his seemingly reckless action just as he accepted a target.
On the second floor of the War Service Hall.
Two beautiful figures peered down.
One of the two women was tall and slender, with a bamboo-like ponytail hanging down to her feet.
It was Qin Lian.
The woman beside her, petite in stature, was a sharp contrast to her. She was another outstanding talent in the Tianyuan Region, Mu Youlan.
“What's he doing?” Qin Lian said, frowning.
“Could he really be planning to pick a target from the bounty list?” Mu Youlan’s quiet voice contained a little surprise and curiosity.
“Nonsense.” Qin Lian shook her head. “If the top five forces knew about his new identity, all the Heavenly Sun experts on the battlefield would most likely encircle him!”
She knew Zhou Yuan had broken through to the Heavenly Sun stage, but that wasn’t enough reason for him to mess around. Even if he had refined a glass Heavenly Sun...that wouldn’t be enough!
Mu Youlan suddenly said, “Could it really be just a show? Look, elder Yi Yan came out.”
Qin Lian followed her gaze and saw elder Yi Yan come to the center of the hall and greet Zhou Yuan with other people.
She couldn’t help muttering to herself, Could he have deliberately planned this show to quell the rumors?
A trace of disappointment flashed across her eyes. Although she felt it was utterly ridiculous for Zhou Yuan to enter the hunting battlefield, she still felt a little disappointed when she found that Zhou Yuan lacked such courage. After all, he was supreme sovereign Cang Yuan’s official disciple.
Could the su
preme sovereign really have misjudged him?
While thoughts raced through Qin Lian's mind, Yi Yan greeted Zhou Yuan under countless watchful gazes.
“Chief pavilion master Zhou Yuan.” Yi Yan gave a cupped fist salute. Looking at Zhou Yuan, he couldn’t help feeling a little emotional. Who would have thought that the little guy who needed him to bring him to Tianyuan Utopia would be supreme sovereign Cang Yuan’s official disciple?
His status was higher than an elder’s.
“Elder Yi.” Zhou Yuan hurriedly bowed in response, and then he expressed his intention.
“Picking up a mission from the bounty list?” Yi Yan sounded surprised. Immediately after, he frowned and persuaded softly, “Chief pavilion master Zhou Yuan, don’t be reckless. I know you’re determined, but can I suggest you join the war in the periphery war zone first?”
He wanted to advise Zhou Yuan to take it step by step and not set his sights so high.
Unsurprised by Yi Yan’s persuasion, Zhou Yuan explained, “Elder Yi, don’t worry, I am not a reckless person.”
Although he spoke in a gentle tone, he was incredibly firm.
“Also...if Elder Yi won't let me, I will become a laughingstock here,” Zhou Yuan said with a faint smile.
Yi Yan scrunched his brows and swept a glance around the War Service Hall, noticing the many suspicious gazes. He, of course, was aware of the recent rumors surrounding Zhou Yuan. Ultimately, the rumors started because many Heavenly Sun experts from the Tianyuan Region were jealous of him.
Of course, Yi Yan understood their jealousy, because after he learned about Zhou Yuan’s identity, he also couldn’t help but sigh emotionally. Therefore, how could Heavenly Sun experts do any better?
The scene of someone reaching the sky in a single bound usually only appeared in dreams, but it had happened with Zhou Yuan.
Yi Yan carefully studied Zhou Yuan's face and saw no signs of impulsivity in his clear eyes. He hesitated and finally nodded reluctantly.
“Since chief pavilion master Zhou Yuan insists, I also can’t force you.”
Yi Yan turned around and led Zhou Yuan to a wall in the War Service Hall. Many pieces of parchment paper were hung on the scarlet wall with steel nails. The paper fluttered with the wind, and faint Genesis Qi light flowed around them and seemed to transform into a figure.
Dragon Prince Yuan c1-1251 Page 524
