Chapter 1007: War Merits Hall

Zhou Yuan entered the Merit Hall. He noticed the various gazes directed his way and sensed the unusually quiet atmosphere within the hall, yet his expression remained calm. After a quick glance around, he walked directly towards the resting area.

In the resting area, the Heavenly Sun experts present looked somewhat uneasy at the sight. Although they had previously spoken disrespectfully of Zhou Yuan, it was undeniable that his current standing in the Heaven Abyss Territory was extraordinary.

Even if he had declined the title of elder, his identity as a personal disciple of the Grand Elder was indisputable.

Therefore, even the elders of the Heaven Abyss Territory's Elder Council would have to treat him with courtesy, let alone these Heavenly Sun experts. Their previous remarks had been fine spoken in private, but they still didn't dare to openly confront him.

However, they also possessed the pride of Heavenly Sun experts and didn't want to show any fear in front of Zhou Yuan. So, they all stood stiffly, bodies tense, staring emotionlessly at the approaching Zhou Yuan, wondering how they should react if he decided to rebuke them.

Under their many gazes, Zhou Yuan arrived at the resting area.

But just as the Heavenly Sun experts held their breath, expecting to see Zhou Yuan's anger, they observed that he didn't look at them. Instead, his gaze fell upon a group of people in the corner of the resting area, and he smiled, waving to them.

"Zhou Yuan!"

A joyful smile appeared on Yi Qiushui's gentle face. She, along with Ye Bingling and Mu Liu, all stood up and quickly approached Zhou Yuan.

"You're out of seclusion? Did you break through?" Yi Qiushui asked curiously.

She then glanced at the uncomfortable Heavenly Sun experts in the resting area and whispered, "Don't mind them."

If Zhou Yuan were to get into a conflict with them here, it would significantly impact him.

Zhou Yuan smiled. Of course, he had no interest in arguing with these people. Even though he had heard their earlier words clearly, it wasn't in his nature to use his status as the Grand Elder's personal disciple to pressure others.

Though these people's words were unpleasant, they were risking their lives fighting for the Heaven Abyss Territory.

Perhaps, from a certain perspective, they were also fighting for him to obtain the Ancestral Dragon Lamp.

Considering this, Zhou Yuan had no intention of getting angry with them. Ultimately, their behavior stemmed only from ignorance and jealousy.

"Haha, little Elder Zhou Yuan, everyone has just been under too much pressure lately, and perhaps had a bit too much to drink, which caused them to speak out of turn. You are a magnanimous person, so please don't take offense." Before Zhou Yuan could speak, a voice chuckled.

Zhou Yuan looked up at the speaker; it was Li Qingyue, the former Chief Pavilion Master.

Although this person seemed to be excusing the other Heavenly Sun experts with his words, there was a subtle, malicious intent in his tone given the time and occasion.

Sure enough, upon hearing this, anger flickered across the faces of the Heavenly Sun experts. "Magnanimous person?" The Heaven Abyss Territory didn't even know of a "Zhou Yuan" when they made their names! They had already decided that if Zhou Yuan dared to do anything to them, they would escalate the situation today and see how he would handle it!

Zhou Yuan glanced at the smiling Li Qingyue and said calmly, "Calling me Chief Pavilion Master will suffice. As this is an extraordinary period, the elders have asked me to remain in the position of Chief Pavilion Master for a while longer. So, please don't use titles like 'little Elder' casually."

Stung by Zhou Yuan's words, Li Qingyue's face twitched slightly. He forced a smile and said, "Chief Pavilion Master Zhou Yuan certainly has good fortune, to be able to change even such rules."

Unconcealed jealousy burned in his eyes. When he had first broken through to the Heavenly Sun stage, he was immediately removed from his position as Chief Pavilion Master, instantly losing his elevated elder status. Yet, for Zhou Yuan, it seemed these rules didn't apply.

But Zhou Yuan no longer paid him any mind. He could see that Li Qingyue was deliberately trying to provoke him, and for such people, ignoring them was the best option.

He turned to Yi Qiushui and the others and said, "Help me select some elites from the Four Pavilions to form a team."

Yi Qiushui was immediately startled upon hearing this. "You're going to join the battle and hunt?"

After the initial large-scale battles between the Heaven Abyss Territory and the five major powers, both sides had now adopted small-scale incursions. Teams roamed, like hunters, seeking out enemy traces and then engaging in lethal combat.

The numerous Heavenly Sun experts in the resting area were all hunting enemies in a similar fashion to earn military merit.

However, this kind of hunting was extremely dangerous. Once engaged, it was a fight to the death, a brutal and bloody struggle where only one side survived.

Those at the Divine Dwelling stage typically served as scouts, spies, or even cannon fodder in these engagements. Thus, they would choose a relatively powerful Heavenly Sun expert as their captain to assist them and simultaneously earn merit.

Even early-stage Heavenly Sun experts were extremely vulnerable in the hunting zones. Most of the Heavenly Sun experts who died daily were at this level; only those who reached the mid-stage Heavenly Sun possessed some self-preservation and hunting capabilities.

Zhou Yuan, even if he had successfully broken through, would likely only be at the early-stage Heavenly Sun. Entering the hunting zone with that level of strength would be quite dangerous.

So, when Zhou Yuan made this statement, not only did Yi Qiushui's expression change, but Li Qingyue and the other Heavenly Sun experts also cast strange glances at him.

"Is the hunting list over there?" Zhou Yuan pointed towards the center of the Merit Hall.

At this remark, Yi Qiushui and Ye Bingling were instantly alarmed. The hunting list? Zhou Yuan wanted to find targets from the hunting list? They knew that anyone on the hunting list was undoubtedly an extremely powerful enemy, with the lives of their own Heavenly Sun experts on their hands.

Li Qingyue and the other Heavenly Sun experts on the side also narrowed their eyes, looking at Zhou Yuan as if he were a deranged dead man.

Is this guy truly insane?

Was he affected by the rumors and desperate to prove himself? But this isn't the way to prove anything, is it? This is just seeking death!

Li Qingyue himself had once taken a target from the hunting list. That battle was extremely perilous; with a slight misstep, his target might have been the one to walk out alive. That fight still made Li Qingyue tremble.

If even he struggled considerably, how could Zhou Yuan cope?

Even if Zhou Yuan had now broken through to the Heavenly Sun stage, he was only at the early stage. One must remember, within the three realms of the Heavenly Sun stage, each realm has a huge disparity, and almost all those who can make it onto the hunting list are at the mid-stage Heavenly Sun or above.

In the resting area, numerous whispers broke out.

Many uncertain glances were directed at Zhou Yuan.

However, Zhou Yuan said nothing more. He paid no attention to their strange looks and, under everyone's watchful eyes, turned and walked directly towards the central counter of the Merit Hall.

Ye Bingling and Yi Qiushui exchanged glances, then hastily and anxiously followed him.

What exactly was Zhou Yuan doing?