Chapter 1043: Struggle Begins

The two days passed in the blink of an eye.

At Wind-Rain Lake, the surrounding hills and fields were teeming with people. In the distant sky, countless clouds of Genesis Qi hovered, bearing innumerable figures. Subtle yet powerful auras permeated the void, belonging to Law Domain experts from various factions. Even in places undetectable by these Law Domain experts, vast, elusive fluctuations hinted at the watchful gazes of Saints.

This month-long brewing contest over the exotic object had undoubtedly become the focal point of attention for all forces across Hunyuan Heaven. Everyone understood that this was more than just a confrontation between the Tianyuan Region and the Five Great Alliances; it was a strategic maneuver and clash orchestrated by the Grand Sovereigns of both domains. After this battle, significant shifts in Hunyuan Heaven's overall structure were inevitable, a fact even the Grand Sovereigns of Hunyuan Heaven could not disregard.

Amidst this fervent atmosphere, on a hill adjacent to Wind-Rain Lake, a heavily guarded location served as the Tianyuan Region's encampment. Here, five elders—Xi Jing, Xuan Kun, Mu Ni, and others—stood with their hands clasped behind their backs, their gazes sharp and stern as they observed the distance.

The contest for the exotic object was split between two tower locations. Thus, the lively scene at Wind-Rain Lake represented only half of the action. Simultaneously, the Golden Thunder Abyss was equally boisterous, hosting the battles for those in the Nascent Source stage. The five elders had also dispatched avatars to oversee the Golden Thunder Abyss, ensuring they could swiftly intervene should any unforeseen circumstances arise.

Xi Jing turned her gaze behind her, where today's main participants stood: Qin Lian, Bai Yu, Bian Buji, Mu Youlan, and Zhou Yuan—the five individuals slated to enter the tower battle.

"The Five Great Alliances have also finalized their selections: Zhang Chengfeng from the Scarlet Cloud Sword Sect, Chen Le from the Dragon Gu Palace, Ke Wen from Thunder Mountain, Zhuang Ming from the Soul Devouring Pavilion, and Lu Qing from the Three Mountains Alliance," Xi Jing warned. "These are all top-tier Heavenly Sun experts from the Five Great Alliances. Each of them has condensed a Glazed Heavenly Sun and is widely renowned, so you must not underestimate them."

While condensing a Glazed Heavenly Sun demands exceptionally high talent and serendipitous encounters, making them rare even within the Tianyuan Region, the Five Great Alliances, working together, were still able to produce several such individuals.

The five nodded in unison. Zhou Yuan hesitated slightly before asking, "While these five are indeed formidable, when it comes down to it, I fear they might still fall short compared to us. Given Grand Sovereign Wan Zu's deep plotting, is there a chance he'll send Heavenly Sun experts from the Wan Zu Region to replace them?" The opponents were undeniably strong, but in a direct confrontation, the likelihood of losing three out of five matches seemed high. If even he could perceive the disparity in strength, surely Grand Sovereign Wan Zu wouldn't overlook it? Therefore, if the Wan Zu Region were to intervene with a substitution tactic, it would pose a significant threat.

Xi Jing nodded gently. "That is indeed one of our concerns," she confirmed. "However, it's not that easy for the Wan Zu Region to substitute their people for those of the Five Great Alliances. This iron tower was left by Master, and it possesses its own spiritual intelligence to make judgments. If the Wan Zu Region truly attempts such a substitution trick, it will likely be impossible for them to enter the tower." Evidently, the measures left behind by Cang Yuan included such precautions.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yuan said no more. This was already a subtle contest between the Grand Sovereigns of both sides, a conflict that even Law Domain experts like Xi Jing would likely find difficult to influence, much less him, a cultivator in the relatively minor Heavenly Sun stage.

Just then, a vast surge of Genesis Qi suddenly erupted in the distant heavens and earth. The void rippled as several figures materialized, emanating an astonishing pressure that filled the air and caused all the assembled experts to regard them with awe. It was the Law Domain experts of the Five Great Alliances making their appearance. However, the Dragon Gu Old Devil was conspicuously absent, evidently still recovering from the severe injuries inflicted by Xi Jing, unable even to make a token appearance.

As the Law Domain experts from both sides exchanged stern glances, the temperature of the entire world seemed to plummet. Genesis Qi fluctuated violently, appearing on the verge of erupting like a volcano at any moment. This sight secretly alarmed the experts from various factions; should the Law Domain powerhouses engage in battle here, they would undoubtedly become collateral damage. Fortunately, both sides exercised restraint, and despite their icy stares, their intimidating presences eventually receded.

With a tremendous surge, massive waves churned in the Wind-Rain Lake. Then, to the awe of countless onlookers, a black iron tower slowly ascended from its depths. The tower appeared slightly mottled, bearing the distinct marks of time. Upon its surface, the ancient characters for "Heavenly Sun" glowed with a mystical power, embodying a rule that prevented any strength violating it from entering the tower once it was fully revealed.

As the black iron tower fully emerged from the lake, everyone felt the atmosphere in the heavens and earth instantly tighten, becoming charged with palpable tension. Countless eyes converged on the two opposing sides.

Without any further preamble, Xi Jing looked at Qin Lian and instructed, "Qin Lian, you will take the first battle."

Qin Lian was the strongest Heavenly Sun stage cultivator in the Tianyuan Region, holding the sixth position on the Heavenly Sun Ranking. This put her far above any Heavenly Sun cultivator from the Five Great Alliances. Her placement in the first match clearly signaled the Tianyuan Region's intent for a crushing, decisive victory.

"Understood!" Qin Lian acknowledged the order, her beautiful face set with a fierce, cold resolve, her long ponytail trailing down to her ankles. Her figure flickered, and amidst the eager gaze of tens of thousands, she was the first to appear above the black iron tower.

"The Tianyuan Region has deployed Qin Lian for the first battle; they are clearly determined to secure an opening victory!""Qin Lian ranks sixth on the Heavenly Sun List. While the list isn't always perfectly accurate, her strength is undeniable. Among the Heavenly Sun stage cultivators of the Five Great Alliances, none can truly contend with her.""Haha, it's not just Qin Lian. Even against Bai Yu, Bian Buji, and Mu Youlan, I don't think the Five Great Alliances' chances are very high. The only match they might win, I suspect, would be against that young elder Zhou Yuan from the Tianyuan Region...""This Zhou Yuan is quite curious. He's merely in the early Heavenly Sun stage, yet he insists on participating in such a significant event.""Perhaps to garner some prestige and battle merits..."

Qin Lian's appearance sparked hushed conversations among the various factions. Overall, however, most clearly favored the Tianyuan Region. After all, despite its recent decline, it remained one of the Nine Regions, possessing a much deeper foundation than the Five Great Alliances.

Qin Lian's chilling gaze swept towards the Five Great Alliances. Her cold voice rang out: "Who will challenge?"

The moment her voice ceased, a figure shot out from the direction of the Five Great Alliances, instantly appearing just outside the black tower. "Zhang Chengfeng of the Scarlet Cloud Sword Sect, here to seek guidance!"

The challenger was a man clad in red robes. As he manifested, scorching sword qi erupted around him, vast and boundless, like swirling crimson clouds.

"Zhang Chengfeng of the Scarlet Cloud Sword Sect..." Zhou Yuan's eyes narrowed as he observed the red-robed man. From him, Zhou Yuan detected a dangerous aura, indicating he was no ordinary individual.

"This Zhang Chengfeng is known as the 'Fire Sword Son' within the Scarlet Cloud Sword Sect," Mu Youlan murmured beside Zhou Yuan, her voice soft as orchids. "It's said that the Scarlet Cloud Sword Sect's Law Domain experts place great hopes on him. He, too, has condensed a Glazed Heavenly Sun, and his current Genesis Qi foundation likely reaches 1.9 billion."

"1.9 billion," Zhou Yuan echoed. His eyes narrowed. Indeed, these late Heavenly Sun stage cultivators who had condensed a Glazed Heavenly Sun were not to be underestimated. Even with the aid of the Heavenly Yuan Brush, he could only barely reach the 1.5 billion level. This was primarily because the brush's 'promotion' couldn't fully unleash his true potential; otherwise, Zhou Yuan felt that 1.5 billion might not even be his limit for the mid-Heavenly Sun stage.

Zhang Chengfeng was likely the strongest among the five Heavenly Sun stage cultivators dispatched by the opposition. It was clear that the opponents hadn't employed a 'strong against weak' strategy, as such a tactic would be futile. Their side could freely adjust their lineup, rendering any opponent's strategy ineffective. Thus, it would be a direct clash of the strongest, with each relying on their own capabilities.

Zhou Yuan's gaze lingered on Zhang Chengfeng, his brow subtly furrowed. A Genesis Qi foundation of 1.9 billion was certainly formidable. However, as far as he knew, Qin Lian's Genesis Qi foundation had reached 2.1 billion. This 200-million Genesis Qi difference was substantial enough to grant Qin Lian a significant advantage. From every perspective, Zhang Chengfeng seemed to have no chance of victory. Yet the Five Great Alliances still sent him out. Were they simply throwing caution to the wind? What exactly were their opponents planning?

As Zhou Yuan's thoughts whirred, outside the black tower, Qin Lian and Zhang Chengfeng had already transformed into streaks of light, surging into the black iron tower under the watchful eyes of countless spectators.

The contest for the exotic object had officially begun.