Heaven Pillar Peak was located in the central zone of Hunyuan Heaven. It was an inconceivably magnificent mountain that looked like an endless giant wall even from far away. The peak was hidden within thick layers of clouds and plagued by devastating Genesis Qi storms. The storms weakened the fabric of space, causing chunks of shattered space to be drawn into the storms, giving them even more destructive power.

These terrifying storms did not limit themselves to the peak, and they would occasionally sweep downwards. All life was instantly devoured wherever they passed, making them a well-known disaster in Hunyuan Heaven.

These Heaven Pillar Peak calamity storms made the mountain one of the most dangerous locations in Hunyuan Heaven. Normally speaking, even Nascent Source experts would not dare to carelessly move about.

This also made it rather desolate.

However, the mountain had recently become the focal point of Hunyuan Heaven because one needed to pass through Heaven Pillar Peak to enter Guyuan Heaven.

The various factions arrived in swarms, ultimately gathering in the city below Heaven Pillar Peak.

Named after Heaven Pillar Peak, Heaven Pillar City looked rather ancient and was clearly unable to sustain the crazy influx of people. Therefore, tents of varying colors could be found on the plains outside the city, stretching all the way to the end of one’s sights. It was quite a magnificent scene.

However, even such an amazing sight appeared dim in comparison to Heaven Pillar Peak. The endless tents that wrapped around the mountain’s foot were akin to ants surrounding a giant ant nest.

……

When Zhou Yuan and Qin Lian arrived at Heaven Pillar Peak with the team, they were greeted by endless camps and lights that stretched to the ends of their sights.

“So this is Heaven Pillar Peak…” Zhou Yuan raised his head and gazed at the enormous entity bathing in the glow of the setting sun. The mountain nearly filled his entire vision, and it looked endless no matter which way he turned, creating a feeling of oppressiveness.

Zhou Yuan knew that he was only looking at the tip of the iceberg. Most of the peak was concealed by thick layers of clouds.

Zhou Yuan also took note of several boundaries in the sky around the mountain. These boundaries were likely precautions against the devastating storms from Heaven Pillar Peak to prevent any losses among the gathered factions.

Qin Lian looked towards Zhou Yuan and said, “Get them to set up camp while we go into the city. I believe the other eight regions are already here.”

The various factions had gathered at Heaven Pillar Peak to discuss the battle for Guyuan Heaven. For example, they would decide on certain rules and guidelines beforehand to prevent the in-fighting from becoming too fierce since the in-fighting would only end up benefiting the other heavens.

Although no one knew how effective such rules would be in conflicts of interest, it was better than nothing.

“I guess it’ll be a meeting of formidable and ruthless characters.” Zhou Yuan grinned.

Only the most powerful Heavenly Sun experts of the various factions had the qualifications to participate in this meeting, and he would likely be the most unremarkable among them.

After all, all of them surpassed him in both experience and cultivation.

Qin Lian chuckled softly. “Experience means nothing before true power. Moreover, you’re actually the most monstrous of us all. How long has it been since you stepped into the Heavenly Sun stage? A year? What about us? Who hasn’t spent several times that period accumulating power in the Heavenly Sun stage?

“And yet, you’re already slowly catching up to us oldies...such a thing has rarely happened even in Hunyuan Heaven’s long history.”

Zhou Yuan felt a little overwhelmed by Qin Lian’s praise. He knew how prideful she was, and he had never expected her to think so highly of him.

Upon seeing Zhou Yuan’s shocked gaze, Qin Lian frowned slightly and said, “Although we could never properly decide the victor of our bouts over the past few days, do you think I didn’t realize that you did it on purpose?”

Zhou Yuan hurriedly smiled and said, “Weren’t you also holding back?”

Qin Lian gritted her teeth and retorted, “If I have to use all of my trump cards in a duel against a junior who had entered the Heavenly Sun stage so many years after me, what difference would that be from admitting defeat?”

In the face of her stubbornness, Zhou Yuan could only display a helpless smile.

While the two were conversing, the giant flying ship descended from the sky. Zhou Yuan and Qin Lian left some instructions for Bian Buji, Mu Youlan and the others before leaping into the air. They turned into two streaks of light and shot towards the small ancient city.

The city was currently filled with numerous powerful practitioners.

It was not only the Heavenly Sun practitioners that had things to discuss; the Nascent Source stage and the Law Domain stage were also meeting up. Of course, this had nothing to do with Zhou Yuan and the others.

The two landed in the western part of the city where a stone tower stood. There were numerous guards around the tower, each giving off powerful Genesis Qi undulations.

However, the guards only shot a single glance at Zhou Yuan and Qin Lian arriving. No one came forward to question or stop the duo because the guards were clearly already aware of the duo’s identities.

Zhou Yuan and Qin Lian walked straight into the stone tower after arriving. As they stepped through the entrance, a spacious stone hall greeted them, and it was already filled with people.

The hall was like some kind of arena. Stone steps extended downwards with numerous seats built into each layer.

At the very center was a round black stone table. Several figures were already seated at the thick and simple table. Every individual was resting with their eyes lightly shut. They appeared relaxed but gave off faint heart-palpitating pressure.

Only the representatives with sufficient strength were allowed to sit at the black stone table. The ones seated there were the most powerful Heavenly Sun experts in Hunyuan Heaven.

Numerous gazes looked over when Zhou Yuan and Qin Lian appeared. Some of the gazes paused on Zhou Yuan in curiosity, evidently recognizing him.

There was also no lack of indifferent gazes. The owners of these gazes clearly didn't feel that a newcomer who had stepped into the Heavenly Sun stage less than a year ago was worthy of any attention, even if he held a position in the Tianyuan Region that they could only look up to.

Zhou Yuan’s expression did not change, displaying no anger whatsoever in response to their disrespectful gazes. Just as he was about to walk forward, a familiar undulation and a light fragrance suddenly appeared behind him.

Zhou Yuan immediately felt numerous gazes shift away from him in amazement.

He did not look back because the figure had stopped when she was shoulder to shoulder with him.

He looked to the side, and a bright red dress entered his eyes along with skin as fair as snow and a slender body with enchanting curves that rose like a mountain range. A sharp nose proudly stuck out from her beautiful face, the tip seemingly glowing under the light.

As his gaze moved upwards, he found a pair of indifferent phoenix eyes silently observing him.

Icily arrogant as usual, like an empress.

Her elegance had not diminished since their last encounter.

It was Wu Yao.

“We meet again,” Zhou Yuan smiled as he called out to her.

Wu Yao swept a glance at him and said, “You’d better be careful in Guyuan Heaven. If there’s a chance, I’ll definitely take back what I lost.”

Zhou Yuan could not help but raise his brow at the faint Genesis Qi pressure from Wu Yao’s body.

Intermediate Heavenly Sun stage...looks like my senior brother was right.

Wu Yao had also received special grooming from supreme sovereign Wu Shen recently. Given her talent, the session had clearly benefited her greatly.

However, Zhou Yuan was not afraid. He had not feared Wu Yao even when she had far outclassed him in power back then, let alone now.

Hence, he laughed and said, “Anytime. But I also have a warning for you.”

Zhou Yuan sized up Wu Yao with a playful smile. “It will not be worth it when you end up losing what you still have.”

Wu Yao glared at Zhou Yuan. Although his words seemed to be disrespectful, she understood that he was genuinely warning her that she would lose again.

The faint anger in her heart slightly alarmed Wu Yao. She was usually very disciplined, and ordinary people would not be able to shake her no matter how hard they tried to provoke her. So why had she been so easily incited by Zhou Yuan?

He was really her mortal enemy!

Just as Wu Yao was about to retort, a faint chuckle suddenly sounded behind her, breaking the face-off between her and Zhou Yuan.

“Grand elder Zhou Yuan, we should all mind our own business, but I will not agree if you intend to finish off junior sister Wu Yao.” The voice was rather ordinary, but when it spread, the surrounding space seemed to ripple faintly. Zhou Yuan saw numerous gazes suddenly turn fearful and wary.

Zhou Yuan turned his head and found a man in azure robes standing two steps behind him. The smiling man had a very ordinary face that seemed to exude an indescribable charm.

Eyes that were as deep as the abyss. All the man did was stand there, but a suffocating mountain-like pressure seemed to spread from him.

Zhou Yuan’s skin abruptly tightened as his expression turned a little grave.

He had already read the reports on Hunyuan Heaven’s most powerful Heavenly Sun experts. The man before him was likely the superman that reigned as the king of the Heavenly Sun List...

Wushen Region, Guan Qinglong.