Chapter 1014: Important Intelligence

Three days later, somewhere in the Ancient Blazing Forest.

Yi Qiushui, Ye Bingling, and others stood on the trunk of a large tree, craning their necks to gaze into the distance. There, two violent streams of Genesis Qi rose like smoke signals. Their clashes tore apart the nearby ground, causing giant trees to collapse. The destructive power was astonishing.

It was Zhou Yuan battling Cao Xiao, their second target. They had spent three days searching for Cao Xiao in the Ancient Blazing Forest before finally locating him.

However, compared to their initial apprehension, Yi Qiushui and the others now appeared relaxed. After Zhou Yuan's terrifying feat of instantly defeating Zhang Zihao with a single punch, they understood how formidable his power was. Although Cao Xiao wasn't instantly defeated this time, it was clear that Zhou Yuan held the absolute advantage in the battle.

“This guy is truly terrifying,” Mu Liu exclaimed, watching the commotion. Han Yuan, standing nearby, nodded in deep agreement. What he found most terrifying was Zhou Yuan's rapid progress. He recalled how, when Zhou Yuan first arrived at the Four Pavilions, people like Lu Xiao and he himself hadn't taken him seriously. Yet, who could have known that this very person they had underestimated would ultimately lead the Four Pavilions to the top position at the Nine Regions Grand Assembly? From this perspective, they, as Divine Dwelling realm experts, were utterly convinced and impressed by Zhou Yuan.

“The Heavenly Sun realm experts in the Tianyuan Region will probably experience something similar to what we did,” Han Yuan said with a hint of schadenfreude. They were well aware of the deep jealousy and doubt that the current Heavenly Sun realm experts in the Tianyuan Region held towards Zhou Yuan. Unfortunately, these doubts would eventually turn into slaps that would land squarely on their own faces.

“Since Grand Elder Cang Yuan chose Zhou Yuan, it naturally proves his unparalleled talent,” Yi Qiushui stated earnestly. Jealousy had blinded many Heavenly Sun realm experts in the Tianyuan Region, causing them to overlook certain facts. They failed to consider if anyone from the Tianyuan Region had ever achieved the top position at the Nine Regions Grand Assembly since its establishment. Although Zhou Yuan had only recently entered the Heavenly Sun realm and might be slightly weaker than veteran Heavenly Sun experts, given some time, he would undoubtedly leave these proud, established Tianyuan Region experts far behind, beyond their reach.

The others all nodded, somewhat looking forward to that day.

As they spoke, an astonishing burst of Genesis Qi erupted from the distant battlefield. A disheveled figure shot backward, creating a sonic boom as it heavily crashed onto the ground. It bounced dozens of times like a ball, each impact leaving a deep crater in the earth. Finally, the figure came to a stop, covered in blood, with a caved-in chest and barely a breath left—it was none other than Cao Xiao.

At this moment, Cao Xiao's Genesis Qi was weak, and his face was contorted with fear. He was utterly terrified by the combat power displayed by Zhou Yuan, who was only at the early Heavenly Sun realm. He couldn't comprehend why Zhou Yuan was so powerful.

Zhou Yuan appeared before Cao Xiao, his eyes indifferent. The mottled black brush in his hand slowly rose, its sharp tip glinting with a cold light that caused the void to tremble.

“Don't, don't kill me!” Cao Xiao, completely demoralized, begged for mercy in horror. In the face of death, he had no regard for the dignity of a Heavenly Sun realm expert.

However, Zhou Yuan remained unmoved. This was war. Perhaps those allies who had died at Cao Xiao's hands had also begged for mercy, but clearly, Cao Xiao had shown none. Therefore, without hesitation, Zhou Yuan thrust his Heavenly Yuan Brush directly towards Cao Xiao's glabella, a surge of killing intent emanating from it.

Cao Xiao, utterly terrified, shrieked, “Don't kill me! I have a major secret!”

The sharp tip of the brush stopped half an inch from Cao Xiao's glabella. But the piercing wind from it still created a small bleeding hole in his forehead; just a fraction more, and Cao Xiao's soul would have shattered.

“You have one chance,” Zhou Yuan said indifferently.

Gazing at Zhou Yuan's eyes, as cold as black ice, Cao Xiao swallowed hard and said, “We found the 'Heavenly Blazing Tree King' in the Ancient Blazing Forest. We are currently working all out to extract the 'Tree King Divine Nectar' from it. Once refined and activated with a Genesis Rune barrier, it can cause the strength of all Heavenly Sun realm experts on our front line to surge dramatically in a short period. At that point, the allied forces will launch a full-scale assault to conquer the Chiyun Province front line.”

Zhou Yuan's expression had been impassive, but it gradually grew solemn. Yi Qiushui and the others, who were rapidly approaching, also heard this, and their faces instantly changed dramatically.

“You actually found the 'Heavenly Blazing Tree King'?” Ye Bingling asked, incredulously. “Impossible! The Heavenly Blazing Tree King is a rare wonder, and this entire Ancient Blazing Forest originated from it,” Mu Liu exclaimed quickly. “Even our Venerable Mu Ni personally explored this place before and couldn't find it. How could you possibly have found it?”

Cao Xiao replied, “How would I know such details? All I know is that they did indeed find the Heavenly Blazing Tree King!”

The few of them exchanged glances, a hint of alarm in their eyes. If Cao Xiao's words were true, then the enemy was indeed preparing a shocking major move. Should their plan succeed, the entire Chiyun Province would fall.

All their gazes turned to Zhou Yuan.

Zhou Yuan's eyes flickered slightly as he looked at Cao Xiao and asked, “You should know some of the Heavenly Blazing Tree King's locations, right?”

Cao Xiao was direct: “I don't know the exact location, only that it's southwest from here, deep within our front line.”

Zhou Yuan nodded faintly, then flicked his Heavenly Yuan Brush, sketching a Genesis Rune in the air. He glanced at Cao Xiao and said, “You know what to do.”

It was a Genesis Rune for sealing souls; as long as Cao Xiao didn't resist, it could seal him for a period. Seeing this, Cao Xiao finally gritted his teeth and nodded in agreement. It was clear that if he refused, he would likely die on the spot.

Zhou Yuan's brush tip rose, and the Genesis Rune descended onto Cao Xiao's glabella, rapidly merging into it and temporarily sealing his soul. With his soul sealed, Cao Xiao's eyes rolled back, and he collapsed powerlessly.

Zhou Yuan looked at Yi Qiushui and the others and said, “Take him to Elder Qin Lian as quickly as possible and inform them of this intelligence.”

Yi Qiushui quickly asked, “What about you? You're not going alone, are you? There must be heavily armed enemy forces guarding that place, and even Origin Infant realm experts! You need to be careful; this person might have revealed this information with malicious intent, to lure you to your death.”

Zhou Yuan smiled and said, “Don't worry, I'm not foolish enough to confront them head-on. I'll act with discretion.”

Yi Qiushui and the others hesitated, then finally nodded. With Zhou Yuan's current strength, he possessed the power to protect himself; as long as he didn't do anything foolish, no major issues should arise. Knowing the urgency of the matter, they dared not delay, and seizing Cao Xiao, they sped away through the air.

Zhou Yuan watched their departing figures. A moment later, his gaze turned southwest, his eyes flickering slightly.

“The Heavenly Blazing Tree King...” He had, of course, heard of such a rare wonder. However, something that even Grand Elder Mu Ni couldn't find – could the experts of the Law Domain realm from the five major top forces truly possess such capability? Zhou Yuan's eyes showed contemplation, and then his figure dissolved into shadow, vanishing from the spot.