Chapter 1005: Rumors

"What happened?"

Chi Jing didn't directly answer Zhou Yuan's question. Instead, she said, "You've been in secluded cultivation for over three months, and our Tianyuan Region's war with the five major top-tier forces has also lasted over three months."

Chi Jing's expression turned somewhat stern. "In these past three months, our Tianyuan Region has paid a tremendous price. The five major top-tier forces are proving to be much tougher than we anticipated."

Zhou Yuan's brows also furrowed. "Are the five major top-tier forces really that strong?"

"It's not their strength; it's Wanzu Region's power behind them," Chi Jing sighed, explaining. "This war isn't so much us fighting the five major top-tier forces as it is us fighting Wanzu Region. It's just that Wanzu Region is still mindful of certain superficial rules, so they haven't directly intervened. But even so, the forces Wanzu Region has deployed are enough to give our weakened Tianyuan Region a massive headache."

"At the start of the war, the invading five major top-tier forces were almost routed. However, at that point, Wanzu Region also began exerting its influence in the shadows, compelling more and more affiliated forces to join the five major top-tier forces. We even suspect that it's not just Wanzu Region's affiliated forces involved."

Zhou Yuan's eyes narrowed. "Are other regions also taking advantage of our misfortune?"

Chi Jing nodded. "Wanzu Region isn't without allies. For instance, the Yaokui Region—they might not be overtly involved, but it's not impossible for them to dispatch some hidden affiliated forces to assist the five major top-tier forces."

"Because of these factors, the five major top-tier forces have grown progressively stronger over the past three months. They've not only stabilized their initially crumbling situation but have also begun launching even fiercer assaults on the borders of Tianyuan Region."

"During this period, our Tianyuan Region has suffered significant losses. More than five hundred Divine Dwelling stage experts from the Four Pavilions have perished," Chi Jing's voice grew heavy as she finished speaking.

Zhou Yuan's expression also darkened. After all, he was still the chief of the Four Pavilions, and its members were under his command. During the previous Nine Regions Convention, the Four Pavilions hadn't lost nearly this many people. It was truly heartbreaking that so many now lay buried in this war. Among them, there might even be some familiar faces he had once known.

"Are Yi Qiushui and Ye Bingling alright?" Zhou Yuan asked, taking a deep breath.

Chi Jing shook her head. "They are fine."

Zhou Yuan felt a slight relief. These two were among his closest acquaintances in the Four Pavilions, especially Yi Qiushui, who not only saved him in the past but also made great efforts to help him after he joined the Four Pavilions. Thus, Zhou Yuan couldn't bear for anything to happen to them.

"Are the Law Domain stage experts not planning to intervene?" Zhou Yuan asked, pondering. This war appeared fierce, but only because neither side's Law Domain stage experts had made a move. Otherwise, no matter how many people were involved, once brought into a Law Domain, they would likely turn to ash. Therefore, if Law Domain stage experts intervened, the war should end swiftly.

Chi Jing replied, "It's not that simple. The five major top-tier forces have seven Law Domain stage experts. While their foundations aren't as strong as ours, they are troublesome when they combine forces. Moreover, we dare not proactively step out of Tianyuan Region to eliminate the enemy's Law Domain stage experts when the situation is unclear. Doing so could easily fall into their trap. If even one of our Law Domain stage experts is gravely injured or falls, no number of Divine Dwelling or Heavenly Sun stage experts can compensate for that loss."

Zhou Yuan nodded silently. Indeed, although unpleasant to hear, it was very true. The existence of a Law Domain stage expert couldn't be compared in quantity to Divine Dwelling or Heavenly Sun stage experts; they represented a strategic force! The enemy seemingly only had seven Law Domain stage experts with slightly weaker foundations, but the key was the venomous crocodile from Wanzu Region hidden in the shadows. Therefore, unless an opportune moment arose, Chi Jing and the other Law Domain stage experts would not act lightly. Everything depended on which side's Law Domain stage experts would expose a weakness due to the unfolding battle.

"Earlier, Senior Sister mentioned that my prolonged absence would cause some trouble," Zhou Yuan steered the conversation back.

Chi Jing's eyes sharpened slightly. "Your secluded cultivation has been too long. Recently, rumors have been spreading in Tianyuan Region, claiming that you are deliberately using cultivation to evade the war. This is likely a tactic by the five major top-tier forces to undermine our Tianyuan Region's morale and fighting spirit."

"Normally, such a tactic would be useless against a Divine Dwelling stage expert, but you are different. You are Master's direct disciple. Although you declined the qualification to become a Grand Elder, your identity cannot be denied. You hold the title of a Grand Elder, even if not the actual position."

"You should know that among the Heavenly Sun stage experts within Tianyuan Region, there's likely the most internal disapproval regarding you becoming Master's third direct disciple."

Zhou Yuan nodded calmly. Given his performance at the Nine Regions Convention, no Divine Dwelling stage expert in Tianyuan Region dared to question him anymore. However, while such achievements could deter Divine Dwelling experts, they couldn't fully impress the Heavenly Sun stage experts in Tianyuan Region. They were the proud cultivators of the older generation, who inherently held many of the current generation's Divine Dwelling experts in contempt. Although Zhou Yuan's accomplishments were indeed remarkable, in the eyes of those Heavenly Sun stage experts, they were probably still not sufficient reason for him to be favored by Grand Elder Cang Yuan. Thus, they harbored resentment internally. They couldn't accept that Zhou Yuan, with his Divine Dwelling stage strength, had directly achieved their lifelong ambition.

Therefore, once Zhou Yuan's identity was revealed, while many Heavenly Sun stage experts in Tianyuan Region said nothing openly, some private criticisms were likely unavoidable. The five major top-tier forces probably seized this point, spreading such rumors to destabilize morale and undermine the fighting spirit of Tianyuan Region's Heavenly Sun stage experts. Consequently, these rumors have been rampant recently, claiming Zhou Yuan feared battle and used secluded cultivation to avoid the war. Coupled with the fierce assaults from the five major top-tier forces and significant casualties on Tianyuan Region's side, it was inevitable that some resentment would be directed towards Zhou Yuan in such an atmosphere. If these rumors were allowed to continue spreading, they would undoubtedly have a negative impact on Zhou Yuan's reputation. Zhou Yuan himself didn't care about this personal impact, but ultimately, these rumors would strike at Cang Yuan's prestige, suggesting he was a poor judge of character and had failed the hopes of countless people in Tianyuan Region, thereby severely damaging Tianyuan Region's morale. This was the true objective of the enemy.

Zhou Yuan's gaze was indifferent, then he chuckled faintly. "These five major top-tier forces truly stop at nothing."

"However, such tactics are as fragile as paper; they'll collapse with a single poke."

Chi Jing looked at Zhou Yuan. "What do you intend to do?"

Zhou Yuan stretched, flexing his muscles. "Of course, I'm preparing to join the war. I never intended to avoid battle from the start. Now that I've successfully broken through, it's time to get some action. After all, only by winning can I obtain the Ancestral Dragon Lamp."

He smiled at Chi Jing. "And I also need to let those Heavenly Sun stage experts, both inside and outside Tianyuan Region, understand why I was ultimately chosen by Master, and not them."

Hearing this, Chi Jing also smiled.

"I imagine they'll soon understand what despair truly means."

A Heavenly Sun stage initial with 720 million foundation? It'll probably shock quite a few people speechless.