But even so, the thrill and danger during the infiltration caused the two women to turn pale. Zhou Yuan’s behavior was undoubtedly the same as walking on the tip of a knife.
The three chatted leisurely, and their relationship unknowingly grew closer.
After a while, Zhou Yuan stretched his back and was just about to speak when his expression changed suddenly. Grand elder Mu Ni's voice fell in his ears, “Hurry and come to the main camp.”
Zhou Yuan sprang up immediately. He waved to Qin Lian and Mu Youlan, then hurried to the main camp.
When Zhou Yuan arrived, there was no one else inside except for Mu Ni, and her expression was a little solemn.
“What’s the matter?” Zhou Yuan’s heart pounded when he saw her expression, and he couldn't help but ask, "The two mythical creatures haven’t been taken away, right?”
Mu Ni shook her head, “The situation isn’t that bad. Chi Jing and the others rushed to the two locations, but supreme sovereign Wan Zu also sent someone there and summoned a decree to capture the two mythical creatures. Chi Jing and the others were no match for it.”
Zhou Yuan’s expression changed abruptly.
She continued, "But fortunately, Cang Yuan left behind some protection at the two locations, and it appeared at the critical moment to suppress supreme sovereign Wan Zu’s decree.”
Zhou Yuan patted his chest and shot an annoyed glance at Mu Ni, who was out of breath.
“Cang Yuan had left behind two iron towers. One is a Heavenly Sun Tower, and the other is a Nascent Source Tower. The two mythical creatures are each atop one of the towers.
“Only Heavenly Sun experts and Nascent Source experts can enter the Heavenly Sun Tower and the Nascent Source Tower, respectively. There are five levels in each tower, and both sides will send one person to compete on each level. The first to occupy three levels can climb to the top to take the mythical creature.”
Mu Ni stared at Zhou Yuan and continued, "This is the means Cang Yuan left behind. As for whether it can protect them till the end, perhaps it will depend on the Tianyuan Region’s strength.”
Zhou Yuan nodded.
The appearance of the two iron towers had prevented a large-scale battle from happening and could reduce the number of casualties, but the battles within the towers would likely be bloody and brutal.
Both sides would surely send their strongest Heavenly Sun and Nascent Source experts, and the battles would undoubtedly be the focus of the world.
Chapter 1037 Promotion
After slowly absorbing the information from Mu Ni, Zhou Yuan couldn't help asking, ”Since my master has left behind the towers, why not just protect the two mystical creatures? Why do we have to go through a competition in the two iron towers? There’s no guarantee in the competition."
Since Cang Yuan had left behind such means, it showed everything that had happened was within his expectations. For people of their level, a momentary impulse represented a certain kind of foresight.
Mu Ni shook her head, saying, “Your thinking is too simple. After all, it’s only a means left by Cang Yuan and not his real self. If we anger supreme sovereign Wan Zu, he will inevitably use other means.
"The two iron towers stand tall and upright, and the rules are fairly fair to both sides, so supreme sovereign Wan Zu will tacitly approve of the battle and not create more trouble.
“Our priority now is to make a list of ten Heavenly Sun experts and Nascent Source experts. Chi Jing and the others will start the selection soon. This is a very important matter, and we must gather the strongest people.”
Zhou Yuan nodded his head in disappointment. Although his Genesis Qi foundation had reached 720 million and he wasn’t afraid of facing intermediate Heavenly Sun experts, both sides would no doubt only send out advanced Heavenly Sun experts in the mystical creature battle. Furthermore, their Genesis Qi foundations would be more than a billion each.
With Zhou Yuan’s 720 million Genesis Qi stars, he could show off among intermediate Heavenly Sun experts, but if he were to face top advanced Heavenly Sun experts such as Qin Lian and Mu Youlan, his strength would be inadequate. There was a huge gap between him and top advanced Heavenly Sun experts.
But the mystical creature battle was critical to the Tianyuan Region and would even affect the future ownership of the Ancestral Dragon Lantern. He wouldn't be able to eat and rest in peace if he couldn’t do anything because he couldn’t entrust his fate to other people.
Zhou Yuan suddenly peered at the Heavenly Fire Tree King on his shoulders, and his heart skipped a beat. He exclaimed, “Aunt Mu, can I borrow the Heavenly Fire Tree King’s power to take one of the places?”
He could previously suppress a Nascent Source expert with the Heavenly Fire Tree King’s power, so if he could borrow it again to compete in the mystical creature battle, he was sure he could crush all other competitors.
However, Mu Ni shook her head. "Supreme sovereign Wan Zu's decree is still hanging above the iron tower, which means that he will be watching. If you borrow power that doesn’t belong to you, he will be aware of it, and it could lead to other troubles.
“Moreover—”
Mu Ni swept her eyes over Zhou Yuan. He immediately felt as if her gaze was piercing through him.
“Too much of the Heavenly Fire Tree King’s power isn’t good for you.”
Mu Ni stretched out her hand and grabbed Zhou Yuan’s. At that moment, he could feel a frightening yet gentle force gush into his body. It roamed around the depths of his flesh and blood.
Zhou Yuan was shocked to see green wood shavings emerge on his skin. The odd substance turned to nothing when it met the air.
“Huh, what’s this?” Zhou Yuan asked puzzledly.
“It’s from the Heavenly Fire Tree King’s power corroding your body. If you rely on its power for too long, your body will gradually turn to wood, and soon you will become a human-shaped wooden sculpture," Mu Ni explained.
Zhou Yuan’s back became soaked with cold sweat. He didn't expect there to be side effects from using the Heavenly Fire Tree King’s power. Moreover, he didn’t realize it at all. He stared at the little jade tree on his shoulder and couldn’t help shaking his shoulder. He wanted to shake it off.
As though it sensed Zhou Yuan's disgust, the little jade tree’s branches dropped dispiritedly.
Seeing this, Mu Ni said, “Don't blame it. It’s not that it actively controls you. It’s just that your strength is too weak, so the tree’s strength corrodes it.”
Zhou Yuan nodded, smiling bitterly. He looked a little disappointed. It seemed that his plan of borrowing the Heavenly Fire Tree King’s power to compete for the mystical creature battle wouldn’t be successful.
“Do you want to participate in the mystical creature battle?” Mu Ni said with a gentle smile. “How strong is your Genesis Qi foundation now?”
“Seven hundred and twenty million,” Zhou Yuan muttered.
"It is extremely rare for someone to achieve such a foundation in the initial Heavenly Sun stage, but Qin Lian, Bai Yu, Bian Buji and Mu Youlan will no doubt each occupy one of the final five places because they are considered the top Heavenly Sun experts in the Tianyuan Region.
"The last place is still to be discussed, but it will definitely be another top advanced Heavenly Sun expert, and their Genesis Qi foundation will need to be at least 1.3 billion to be chosen.”
Zhou Yuan scratched his head. It seemed that the requirements to be chosen was more difficult than he had expected. The condition of 1.3 billion Genesis Qi stars was 600 million higher than his current foundation. This couldn’t be compensated by any Genesis techniques. His foundation would only soar if he makes a breakthrough and reaches the intermediate Heavenly Sun stage.
However, he had only made a breakthrough less than a month ago. How would it be that easy to break through again? If he were to borrow some foreign means to force a breakthrough, it could damage his foundation, and the gain wouldn’t outweigh the loss.
But whe
n a disappointed look crossed Zhou Yuan’s face, Mu Ni suddenly said with a smile, "However, it’s not impossible.”
Zhou Yuan stared at her in astonishment.
“Didn't Cang Yuan give you his Heavenly Yuan brush? How many of its runes have you awakened?”
“Six runes!” Zhou Yuan answered immediately.
“Do you know what the seventh rune is called?”
Zhou Yuan shook his head.
"The seventh rune is called Promotion, and it has the ability to raise your level a little for a while. You are now at the initial Heavenly Sun stage, so if you awaken the seventh rune, you can possess the strength of the intermediate Heavenly Sun stage in a short period of time,” Mu Ni said with a smile.
Zhou Yuan's eyes widened. This seventh rune of the Heavenly Yuan brush actually possesses such an abnormal ability?! It can raise your cultivation level! Although there is a time limit, it’s still amazing.
"The Heavenly Yuan brush with the seventh rune awakened can be regarded as a quasi-saint weapon. It isn’t surprising that it possesses that ability. Moreover, the promotion effect reduces as one grows stronger. For example, it is impossible for Law Domain experts like us to raise our cultivation level a little,” Mu Ni explained.
Zhou Yuan secretly smacked his lips. As expected, the Heavenly Yuan brush’s powers only manifested as one’s cultivation level increased.
“But it’s extremely difficult to awaken the seventh rune. I have tried many times before but still haven’t succeeded.” Zhou Yuan smiled bitterly. He had never stopped nourishing the Heavenly Yuan brush, but the seventh rune hadn’t shown any movements in almost one year. The difficulty of awakening the seventh rune wasn’t less than breaking through to the intermediate Heavenly Sun stage.
"As the Heavenly Yuan brush’s level increases, its awakening will become more and more difficult." Mu Ni nodded, and then her eyelashes suddenly fluttered. “Therefore, it requires the mysterious power of something extraordinary.”
Zhou Yuan’s face lit up with understanding. He shifted his gaze to the Heavenly Fire Tree King on his shoulder.
Under their watchful gazes, the Heavenly Fire Tree King shuddered as if sensing something wrong. Its jade light flashed as it transformed into a stream of light to escape.
However, it had only just moved when a slender jade-like hand stretched towards it from the void and grasped it firmly.
As Mu Ni looked at the little jade tree in her palm, a gentle smile curved her lips. "Little Tree King, let us borrow some power, okay?”
The Heavenly Fire Tree King trembled uncontrollably.
Noticing the pitiful look on its face, Zhou Yuan asked, "It won't have much impact on it, right?”
Mu Ni smiled. "Don't underestimate its power. If its Genesis Qi didn’t lack offensive power, there would be no way we could win in a fight against it. We are only going to borrow some of its power to help you awaken the seventh rune. It’s only going to stay in low spirits for a while.”
She raised her hand and gazed at the Heavenly Fire Tree King, saying, "You were planted by Cang Yuan in the past. If not for his strength, you wouldn’t have been able to grow to this day and possess spiritual intellect. If you help out, it will be considered a great contribution to the Tianyuan Region, and afterward, nobody in the Tianyuan Region will treat you badly.
"So, whether it is for repaying Cang Yuan or for your future, you should know what decision to make, right?”
As Mu Ni spoke gently, light flowed around the Heavenly Fire Tree King. The tree froze for a long while, then finally drooped its branches as though finally accepting its fate.
Chapter 1038 Number of places
"What? You plan to let Zhou Yuan occupy the fifth participant slot in the mystical creature battle!”
In the headquarters’ main tent, the Tianyuan Region’s five grand elders had gathered again. But when Mu Ni proposed to have Zhou Yuan participate in the mystical creature battle, sect master Xuan Kun unsurprisingly opposed it.
Sect master Xuan Kun's wrinkled face was tense. He swept a glance over Zhou Yuan. Although Zhou Yuan wasn’t a true grand elder, his status in the Tianyuan Region was unique, and he was eligible to attend meetings of this level. But sect master Xuan Kun wasn’t easier to talk to because of his presence. On the contrary, he said in a deep voice, "You don't know how important the battles in the twin towers are. According to the list we made before, those with a foundation less than 1.3 billion aren’t qualified to participate. I don’t deny that Zhou Yuan is talented, but he’s only at the initial Heavenly Sun stage.”
Mu Ni said with a smile, “But Nascent Source experts can’t do what he had done on the Chiyun Prefecture battlefield.”
Sect master Xuan Kun argued, “That was a special situation! But the battle in the two towers is going to be a real competition of strength, and any other means will be useless!”
Chi Jing said indifferently, "Zhou Yuan has the Heavenly Yuan brush, so as long as he awakens the seventh rune, Promotion, his strength will skyrocket, and he will be strong enough to deal with the mystical creature battle.”
Sect master Xuan Kun shook his head, saying stubbornly, “The Heavenly Yuan brush can indeed increase one’s strength, but who can guarantee his foundation can reach at least 1.3 billion with the Promotion rune? If he can’t achieve it, it will be meaningless.”
He looked at Zhou Yuan with fierce, piercing eyes and said, "Zhou Yuan, you can leave the situation to the top advanced Heavenly Sun experts. You don't need to take such a huge risk. This is best for you and the Tianyuan Region."
Zhou Yuan smiled helplessly. It was precisely because this matter was too important that he wanted to win a place. He didn't want to leave any matter related to the Ancestral Dragon Lantern to other people, but he didn't want to be in the limelight either. He even hoped that Qin Lian and the others could win three battles so he wouldn’t need to do anything.
"Sect master Xuan Kun, after I awaken the Heavenly Yuan brush’s seventh rune, I will personally talk to the top advanced Heavenly Sun experts you selected. If they have no objection, let me have the last place.”
Sect master Xuan Kun and the others were all taken aback. How could they not know from Zhou Yuan’s tone that he didn’t plan to just talk to the other selected people?
Bian Chang, the Profound Crystal Clan’sLeader, couldn't help chuckling, “No wonder you are supreme sovereign Cang Yuan’s disciple. You’re quite courageous."
Sect master Xuan Kun’s wrinkled face quivered. Since Zhou Yuan had said it like that, there wasn’t anything else he could do. “Fine, if the others object, you have to solve the problem yourself.
"The mythical creature battle is set to happen in one month, and the provisional list of the people chosen will be released. But if you fail to meet our expectations in the end, the final list will also change.”
Zhou Yuan nodded without any objection.
Seeing this, sect master Xuan Kun didn't say anything else. He took another deep look at Zhou Yuan, and then his figure vanished.
Grand elders Bian Chang and Bai Ye also disappeared. The present situation in the Tianyuan Region was very tense, and their Genesis Qi transformations were needed elsewhere.
The atmosphere within the tent eased as they left.
"You really don't rest, ” Chi Jing teased. The mythical creature should have had little to do with Zhou Yuan, an initial Heavenly Sun expert, but he still came forward.
Zhou Yuan sighed, “I really hope I won’t need to appear in the end.”
If he doesn't appear, it means that everything is going well, but if he has to come to the rescue, it means the situation is very bad. So, he would rather not be in the limelight.
“Give me the Heavenly Yuan brush,” Mu Ni said with a smile.
Zhou Yuan quickly took out the mottled black brush, respectfully handed it to Mu Ni, and said sweetly, “I will have to trouble Aunt Ni.”
Mu Ni received the Heavenly Yuan brush and stroked the body lightly. It immedi
ately provoked strong surges of nostalgia, and her expression softened. "I haven't seen it in many years.”
After a good while, she smiled at Zhou Yuan and said, "It will take some time to awaken the seventh rune, but it should be done within a month.”
Zhou Yuan nodded obediently.
Chi Jing tossed something over, which Zhou Yuan quickly caught. It was a scarlet-red bamboo slip engraved with complex runes. It even faintly emitted a red-hot aura.
“This is the little Saint Art you had asked me to find to help you improve your bodily strength. This technique is called the Purgatory Great Flame Devil, and it is considered a top little Saint Art. It’s much stronger than your Mythic Saint Body.”
Zhou Yuan’s face lit up. The Mythic Saint Body was only a top Heaven Genesis Technique, and although it had displayed remarkable power in the past, it had gradually reached its limit when his strength had increased. Regardless of how hard Zhou Yuan had tried, the amount of golden blood refined and born in his heart was still no more than 300 drops, and the increase was slowing.
This was the limitation caused by the Mythic Saint Body’s level. To quickly raise his bodily strength, he needed a more powerful Genesis Art to strengthen his body.
"You have obtained a large amount of Law Domain Source in the Fallen Abyss, and it should be enough for you to master this art.”
Filled with joy, Zhou Yuan nodded repeatedly. "Thank you, senior sister Chi Jing.”
If one were to exchange war credits for this kind of Genesis Art, one would have needed to use a ton of war credits, but Zhou Yuan luckily didn’t need to.
This was one of the benefits of revealing his identity. Even if Chi Jing gave him a top-level little Saint Art, the other three grand elders had to turn a blind eye because Zhou Yuan, an official disciple of the great master, had the right to such a technique.
Chi Jing waved her hand. "During this period of time, concentrate on training and leave the Heavenly Yuan brush to Aunt Ni.”
Dragon Prince Yuan c1-1251 Page 537
