The Tianyuan Region’s northern border.

Wind Rain City.

The city had derived its name from the nearby Wind Rain Lake. Though it was not well-known in the past, it had recently become the focus of countless Hunyuan Heaven factions due to the twin tower battle.

The city’s name was quite apt for the storm that was brewing over it.

The Tianyuan Region had dispatched a massive military force to maintain order in Wind Rain City.

The various outside factions were surprisingly obedient and did not cause many problems. In contrast, several disputes had broken out internally, making the Tianyuan Region look like a laughing stock to these outside factions.

The reason for these disputes was undoubtedly Zhou Yuan’s participation.

The majority of the veteran Tianyuan Region Heavenly Sun experts felt much more experienced than a new generation Heavenly Sun practitioner like Zhou Yuan. As a result, they could not help but feel a sense of superiority over him. Although Zhou Yuan had achieved astonishing feats on the Chiyun Prefecture battlefield, many of the Heavenly Sun experts who had not participated in the fight were still skeptical of his abilities. It was a popular belief that Zhou Yuan had merely gotten lucky and had managed to borrow the Heavenly Fire Tree King’s power.

They insisted that Zhou Yuan’s initial Heavenly Sun stage cultivation was not enough for him to take on such a heavy responsibility.

At the end of the day, it was their ego that made them unable to acknowledge or accept that a new Heavenly Sun expert was able to surpass them and become a core pillar of the Heavenly Sun stage.

The many squabbles that arose due to this were nothing but entertainment to the outside parties.

...

Wind Rain City, a manor in the northern sector.

A large hall stood amidst the manor, the boiling clamor within nearly popping off the roof. The place was overflowing with people. When one took a closer look, one would discover that the Genesis Qi spreading from every individual had reached the Heavenly Sun level. Everyone in the entire group was basically considered an elite in the Tianyuan Region.

On a stage at the front of the hall were three Nascent Source experts. They were currently feeling somewhat helpless as they gazed at the angry crowd below.

The matter this time had created big waves among the Tianyuan Region’s Heavenly Sun stage, and even the five grand elders did not wish to forcibly suppress the opposition in fear of creating more unrest among the people. Hence, this matter had been thrown to the three of them to deal with, but what could they do?

Honestly speaking, they also felt that Zhou Yuan would not be a reliable fifth participant. However, they also understood that expressing their opinions would not change anything due to his special status.

The three Nascent Source elders exchanged a look as they complained inwardly. There were only two days left till the Heavenly Sun Tower Battle. If the disputes were not quelled before then and a ruckus broke out during the tower battle, the Tianyuan Region would surely lose all face. Moreover, it would give the five grand elders the impression that they were incapable.

A middle-aged Heavenly Sun stage man stood up and said in a loud and clear voice, “Elders, the Heavenly Sun Tower Battle will start in two days. After some discussion, we have decided to recommend senior brother Wang Ping and senior sister Lu Ping for the fifth participant slot. We want them to represent our Tianyuan Region’s Heavenly Sun stage experts!”

His words immediately drew numerous approving voices.

The three Nascent Source experts looked over and found a man and a woman standing in front of the group. Both of them gave off extraordinary presences. From the Genesis Qi rippling off their bodies, they were clearly peak experts of the advanced Heavenly Sun stage.

Among the Tianyuan Region’s Heavenly Sun experts, these two individuals were second only to Qin Lian and the other three participants. Their Genesis Qi foundations had reached the astonishing level of 1.3 billion!

The fifth participant slot should have originally gone to either of them.

However...this decision was made by the five grand elders. What use was there in recommending them to us?

While the three Nascent Source experts were cursing inside, Qin Lian suddenly slammed her hand into the table. The noise echoed throughout the large hall, causing the place to fall silent as numerous people looked over with respectful gazes. Qin Lian was clearly very influential among the Tianyuan Region’s Heavenly Sun stage.

The many Heavenly Sun practitioners had far more faith in her than the three Nascent Source elders.

“The five grand elders naturally have their reason for making such a decision. After causing such a ruckus for so long, isn’t it time for you guys to stop?” Qin Lian’s sharp gaze swept across the crowd. Anyone who met her gaze quickly looked away.

The hall went a little silent.

Laughter suddenly rang out. “Hehe, I feel that we can’t blame them for kicking up a fuss. After all, they’re only concerned about our Tianyuan Region.”

Qin Lian gazed over as she knit her brows together. The speaker was Bai Yu, who was second in influence only to her among the Tianyuan Region’s Heavenly Sun stage experts.

Bai Yu displayed a faint smile as he continued, “The Great Five Alliance’s participant list is already out, and they’re all our old acquaintances. Although the odds are slightly in our favor, it will still be best to cover all corners. Allowing Zhou Yuan to take one of the slots will only put the rest of us under more pressure.

“Moreover...Zhou Yuan is our esteemed little grand elder, and such life-or-death fights should be left to underlings like us. There’s no need for him to compete with us for war credits.”

His tone was ordinary, but his words’ deeper meaning drew another wave of angry noises from the hall.

The Great Five Alliance’s participant list had already been publicized. From their respective line-ups, the Tianyuan Region side had the advantage. Was their little grand elder being so proactive because he was already privy to this information long ago and was planning to get some easy honor and achievements?

At the sight of the rowdy hall, Qin Lian said icily, “Everyone who was part of the Chiyun Prefecture battle has witnessed Zhou Yuan’s capabilities. Although his cultivation is at the initial Heavenly Sun stage, he cannot be compared to any ordinary initial Heavenly Sun expert!”

Several of the Heavenly Sun experts in the hall gave slight nods of acknowledgment. They had participated in that battle, and Zhou Yuan’s feats had indeed been miraculous.

Bai Yu nonchalantly said, “Although I was not present at the Chiyun Prefecture battle, I’ve heard that Zhou Yuan merely borrowed the Heavenly Fire Tree King’s power. I do not deny that it was a heroic effort, but the problem is that he cannot rely on such methods in the Heavenly Sun Tower Battle.

“Qin Lian, do you dare to guarantee that he possesses sufficient strength to face the peak experts of the advanced Heavenly Sun stage in direct combat? If something unexpected happens and our Tianyuan Region ends up losing face, will you be able to bear the consequences?”

His words were akin to exceptionally sharp daggers. Even Qin Lian was unable to respond for a time.

She did not doubt that Zhou Yuan could put up a fight against intermediate Heavenly Sun experts, but if it were the advanced Heavenly Sun stage, she felt that he was still somewhat lacking.

Qin Lian originally felt that they only needed to win three fights for the battle to end. In that scenario, Zhou Yuan would not need to come out.

However, this was the most optimistic situation. No one knew whether the Great Five Alliance had any tricks up their sleeves...

While Qin Lian was silent, Bian Buji, who had not talked since the beginning, slowly said, “This matter is very important, and I do not wish for any burdens among the five participants. We’re not playing around here but representing the Tianyuan Region’s Heavenly Sun stage!”

With even the usually neutral Bian Buji displaying his stance, the Heavenly Sun experts in the hall breathed a sigh of relief.

Qin Lian did not say anything else because she knew that she did not have enough reason to convince the two.

The three Nascent Source experts felt their heads begin to ache again.

Creak!

The sound of a door opening was heard at this moment.

Numerous people gazed over with frowns and found a slim figure standing at the entrance.

When they saw who it was, their eyes immediately widened.

Zhou Yuan!

To think that he had appeared!

The hall fell silent once more. No Heavenly Sun expert dared to criticize Zhou Yuan in his face because his status put them under a substantial amount of pressure. However, this did not stop them from staring at him with cold eyes, using their silence to signify their opposition.

Zhou Yuan remained expressionless and composed under the many varying gazes as he walked to the center of the hall, stopping in front of Wang Ping and Lu Ping.

He looked at the two individuals, and they fearlessly met his gaze. They were proud practitioners, after all.

Zhou Yuan raised his gaze and indifferently said, “Useless people always believe that others are as useless as themselves.”

His words instantly drew anger from the numerous Heavenly Sun experts. Zhou Yuan dared to call them useless?!

However, before any of them could speak, they saw dazzling Genesis Qi light spread from behind Zhou Yuan as a grand glass sun slowly appeared. However, the sun was somewhat unique—faint glowing patterns adorned its surface.

The shocking thing, however, was the terrifying Genesis Qi pressure that began to fill the hall.

The eyes of numerous Heavenly Sun experts widened little by little as disbelief flooded their eyes.

They seemed to see countless stars twinkling in the glass sun.

The number had reached…

1.5 billion!

Qin Lian’s, Mu Youlan’s, Bai Yu’s and Bian Buji’s hearts shook as inconceivable looks emerged in their eyes.

Amidst the shock and silence, Zhou Yuan’s indifferent voice rang out, “Is this enough?”