Chapter 1036: Quota

"What? You intend to give Zhou Yuan the fifth spot to participate in the Contest for Mystic Objects?!"

Inside the main tent of the grand camp, the five Grand Elders of Tianyuan Region had gathered once more. As expected, when Mu Ni proposed Zhou Yuan's participation in the Contest for Mystic Objects, Grand Master Xuan Kun immediately voiced his opposition.

Grand Master Xuan Kun's old face was taut. He glanced at Zhou Yuan, who was present. Despite not holding the actual title of Grand Elder, Zhou Yuan's unique status within Tianyuan Region now qualified him to attend meetings of this level. However, Grand Master Xuan Kun showed no signs of being conciliatory because of Zhou Yuan's presence. He said in a deep voice, "You all understand the immense importance of this Double Tower Contest. According to the list we previously compiled, anyone with a Genesis Qi foundation below 1.3 billion is unqualified to participate. I do not deny Zhou Yuan's talent, but he is, after all, only at the early Heavenly Sun Stage."

Mu Ni smiled slightly. "But on the Red Cloud State battlefield, what he achieved at the Heavenly Sun Stage was something even Origin Infant stage experts couldn't do."

Grand Master Xuan Kun paused, then argued, "That was a special circumstance! But the Double Tower Contest is a direct clash of true power; any other tactics will be useless!"

Xi Jing said calmly, "Zhou Yuan possesses the Heavenly Yuan Brush. As long as he awakens its seventh rune, 'Promotion,' his power will surge significantly in a short time, making him capable enough to handle this Contest for Mystic Objects."

Grand Master Xuan Kun shook his head, stubbornly insisting, "While the Heavenly Yuan Brush can indeed boost power, it's not a guaranteed solution. And who can assure that he can surpass a 1.3 billion Genesis Qi foundation just by relying on 'Promotion'? If he can't reach that, all of this is meaningless." He looked at Zhou Yuan with sharp eyes. "Zhou Yuan, leave this kind of occasion to the top late Heavenly Sun Stage experts of Tianyuan Region. There's no need for you to take such a huge risk; it would be better for both you and Tianyuan Region."

Zhou Yuan offered a helpless smile. It was precisely because of the immense importance of this matter that he wanted to secure a spot. He didn't want to entrust this crucial event, which concerned the Ancestral Dragon Lantern, to others. He wasn't seeking the limelight; in fact, he felt it would be best if Qin Lian and the others could simply win three matches decisively without his intervention.

"Grand Master Xuan Kun, once I awaken the Heavenly Yuan Brush's seventh rune, I will personally speak with those top late Heavenly Sun Stage experts you've chosen. If they have no objections then, this spot can be given to me."

Grand Master Xuan Kun and the others were momentarily stunned. They clearly understood that Zhou Yuan's "talk" with the others wouldn't be simple.

"Indeed worthy of the Great Venerable's direct disciple; he certainly has some courage," Bian Chang, the patriarch of the Profound Crystal Clan, couldn't help but chuckle.

Grand Master Xuan Kun's aged face twitched. Since Zhou Yuan had already spoken, he naturally couldn't persist. "Alright, we'll proceed as you said. If anyone among them objects at that time, you'll have to resolve it yourself." He continued, "The Contest for Mystic Objects is set for one month from now. The initial list will be released, but if you ultimately fail to meet our expectations, the final list will be subject to change."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yuan nodded slightly, indicating no objection.

Seeing this, Grand Master Xuan Kun said no more. He simply gave Zhou Yuan a deep look, then his figure vanished into thin air. Grand Elders Bian Chang and Bai Ye also disappeared. With the current tense situation in Tianyuan Region, their Genesis Qi avatars were proving insufficient for all the demands.

After they left, the atmosphere in the tent became more relaxed.

"You truly can't stay put," Xi Jing said, giving Zhou Yuan a sideways glance. Originally, this Contest for Mystic Objects shouldn't have had much to do with Zhou Yuan, an early Heavenly Sun Stage practitioner, yet he still stepped forward.

Zhou Yuan sighed. "I genuinely hope I won't be needed to participate in the end." If he didn't need to participate, it would at least mean everything was going smoothly. If it came to a point where he had to step in and save the situation, it would indicate that the situation was already extremely dire, and he would rather not be in the limelight in such circumstances.

"Hand me the Heavenly Yuan Brush," Mu Ni said with a smile.

Zhou Yuan quickly took out the mottled black brush and respectfully handed it to Mu Ni, sweetly saying, "Then I'll leave it to you, Aunt Ni."

Mu Ni took the Heavenly Yuan Brush, gently caressing its body. A look of reminiscence appeared in her eyes, and her expression softened. "It's been so many years since I last saw it..." After a moment, she smiled at Zhou Yuan. "Awakening the seventh rune will take some time, but it should be done within a month."

Zhou Yuan obediently nodded.

Xi Jing, meanwhile, tossed something over. Zhou Yuan quickly caught it; it was a crimson jade slip with intricate patterns etched onto its surface, subtly radiating a scorching aura. "This is a 'Minor Saint Art' for body cultivation that you asked me to find for you previously..." She explained, "This art is called the 'Inferno Great Blazing Demon,' and it's considered a top-tier Minor Saint Art. Its power is much greater than your 'Profound Saint Body'."

Zhou Yuan was overjoyed. The 'Profound Saint Body' he had been cultivating was merely a top-tier Heavenly Origin Art. While its power had been decent in the past, as his strength gradually increased, the Profound Saint Body was slowly reaching its limit. No matter how hard Zhou Yuan cultivated it, the golden blood condensed in his heart amounted to only a little over three hundred drops, and its increase was becoming progressively slower. This was a limitation imposed by the grade of the Profound Saint Body Origin Art itself. To rapidly enhance his physical body, he needed a more powerful body-refining Origin Art.

"You acquired a substantial amount of Law Domain Source in the Abyssal Demise, so it should be enough for you to master this art."

Zhou Yuan nodded repeatedly, delighted. "Thank you, Senior Sister Xi Jing." If such an Origin Art were to be exchanged for military merits, it would undoubtedly require an enormous amount, but Zhou Yuan didn't have to abide by that. This was the benefit of his revealed identity. Even if Xi Jing directly gave him such a top-tier Minor Saint Art, the other three Grand Elders could only turn a blind eye, as Zhou Yuan, being the Great Venerable's direct disciple, indeed possessed such qualifications.

Xi Jing waved her hand. "For this period, just focus on your cultivation. Leave the Heavenly Yuan Brush matter to Aunt Ni." She paused, as if recalling something, and couldn't help but chuckle. "And once that list is announced... you'll probably be pushed into the eye of the storm again."

Zhou Yuan shrugged, not particularly bothered by this, as such things were quite commonplace for him.

The matter of the Contest for Mystic Objects was not kept secret by either Tianyuan Region or the Five Great Alliances. Thus, within just a few days, it became the focal point of attention for both sides, and even for many other factions across Hunyuan Heaven. So, just as Xi Jing had predicted, when Tianyuan Region released the initial list of five participants for the Heavenly Sun Tower Contest for Mystic Objects, it predictably caused an uproar.

Countless Heavenly Sun Stage experts in Tianyuan Region were astonished. Their astonishment, of course, was not directed at Qin Lian, Bai Yu, Bian Buji, or Mu Youlan—the four established Heavenly Sun Stage powerhouses—but at Zhou Yuan, who had managed to secure a spot on the list as an early Heavenly Sun Stage practitioner. After the initial shock, a wave of strong opposition erupted. Most of the opposing Heavenly Sun Stage experts had not participated in the Red Cloud State battlefield. In contrast, those who had fought there were much more rational, having witnessed Zhou Yuan's miraculous feats. Yet, even among them, a considerable number still expressed doubts and concerns about the preliminary list.

After all, Grand Master Xuan Kun had made a valid point: the Contest for Mystic Objects was a direct test of true strength, where no stratagem or tactic could change the outcome. Zhou Yuan's abilities were indeed impressive, but he was still only at the early Heavenly Sun Stage! And those participating in this Contest for Mystic Objects would undoubtedly be the most formidable Heavenly Sun Stage experts from both sides! Compared to them, shouldn't Zhou Yuan still have a significant gap in power?

Within Tianyuan Region, the release of this list led to constant commotion in the following days. Furthermore, the ripple effect of this matter did not end there. The list not only spread throughout Tianyuan Region but also rapidly reached the other eight regions, causing considerable stir.