Chapter 1055: Shrew

After the Battle of the Genesis Artifacts concluded, its somewhat unexpected outcome quickly spread throughout Hunyuan Heaven at an astonishing speed, causing considerable sensation and uproar.

Many were surprised by the subdued performance of Qin Lian, Bai Yu, and other top Heavenly Sun experts from Tianyuan Region in the Battle of the Genesis Artifacts, and then shocked by Zhou Yuan's heroic efforts to turn the tide.

Although they knew Lu Qing, Zhou Yuan's opponent, was considered the weakest among the five great alliances' Heavenly Sun experts, it was important to note that Zhou Yuan had only broken through to the Heavenly Sun stage a few months prior. The early and late Heavenly Sun stages were two entirely different levels!

Those who had previously dominated the Divine Dwelling List, even figures like Zhao Mu Shen, became extremely low-key after breaking through to the Heavenly Sun stage. They all clearly understood that no matter how brilliant they had been before, at the Heavenly Sun stage, they were merely considered newcomers.

To shine brightly again in the Heavenly Sun stage, which was far more profound than the Divine Dwelling stage, they still needed a period of accumulation.

Before that, the wisest course of action was to honestly remain low-key.

But Zhou Yuan clearly defied this understanding.

Not only did he forcibly participate in this battle, which belonged to the late Heavenly Sun stage, with his early Heavenly Sun strength, but he also became the most dazzling figure within it.

Such a result undoubtedly drew countless people's silent amazement; this Divine Dwelling King, who had broken through the limits of the Divine Dwelling stage, truly seemed to be extraordinary.

Although intelligence suggested that Zhou Yuan was able to withstand Lu Qing largely due to external aid, this performance still caused countless Heavenly Sun experts in Hunyuan Heaven to take notice and pay a bit more attention to this rising star who had dominated the Divine Dwelling stage.

Of course, more high-level entities were more concerned with the situation between Tianyuan Region and the five great alliances.

In this Battle of the Genesis Artifacts, each side secured one artifact. Overall, the five great alliances—or rather, Grand Elder Wan Zu behind them—did not achieve the perfect outcome they desired. In the days following the battle's conclusion, both sides seemed to have scaled back their battlefronts. Outwardly, the atmosphere appeared to have calmed, but only the perceptive could faintly sense the storm brewing beneath the calm.

Grand Elder Wan Zu was never one to be benevolent.

Since he had already made it clear he intended to act, he would absolutely not stop until he achieved his desired objective.

It was just unknown what that unfathomable Grand Elder planned to do next.

The top talents from other regions who had previously ranked high on the Divine Dwelling List fell silent for a long time after learning this news, because Zhou Yuan's outstanding performance truly put immense pressure on them.

Thus, Zhao Mu Shen, for example, immediately applied to enter the most rigorous trial in Wan Zu Region.

Wu Yao also increased the intensity of her cultivation once again.

They were all extremely proud individuals, and their talent was hailed as exemplary for their generation. While they acknowledged Zhou Yuan's capabilities, it was impossible for them to simply watch him pull ahead unchallenged. Their pride prevented them from giving up, so they would do their utmost to catch up and surpass him.

Purple Cloud Region.

In the valley with a cascading waterfall.

On the cliff face, a cold and beautiful woman in a white dress looked at the intelligence report in her hand; in her usually indifferent eyes, a hint of surprise and doubt now appeared.

"That Zhou Yuan... he actually defeated Lu Qing of the Three Mountains Alliance?"

This woman in white was naturally Dong Ye of Purple Cloud Region, renowned in the Heavenly Sun stage throughout Hunyuan Heaven. Her ranking on the Heavenly Sun List was even higher than Qin Lian's.

"Senior Sister Dong Ye, this Zhou Yuan from Tianyuan Region is truly amazing! He's only in the early Heavenly Sun stage, yet he could defeat someone like Lu Qing, who has a Glazed Heavenly Sun in the late stage." In front of Dong Ye, the young female disciple who delivered the message couldn't help but exclaim.

Dong Ye glanced at her indifferently and said, "He does have some capability, but his ability to contend with Lu Qing was mostly due to temporarily boosting his strength with external aid. Otherwise, Lu Qing could have simply crushed him with his Genesis Qi reserves alone."

"The gap between the early and late Heavenly Sun stages is greater than you imagine."

"Furthermore, he happened to encounter a late Heavenly Sun expert like Lu Qing, who has weaker foundations. If it were others, like Zhang Chengfeng and the like, I'm afraid even with external aid, it wouldn't have been effective..."

The young female disciple stuck out her tongue and asked, "Should I still give this report to Senior Sister Youwei?"

Dong Ye replied coolly, "I've already said, Junior Sister Youwei needs to focus on her cultivation; these messages needn't distract her."

The young female disciple reluctantly could only comply.

"Senior Sister Dong Ye."

Just then, a soft, clear voice suddenly sounded from behind.

Dong Ye's expression remained unchanged as she put away the intelligence report in her hand. She then turned around to look at the girl approaching with light steps.

The girl's face was exquisitely beautiful. Having just emerged from cultivating in the waterfall, her dark hair flowed down her back, still damp with moisture. Her jade-like skin shimmered faintly in the sunlight, and her slender waist was like a willow branch, making even a woman like Dong Ye linger for a moment.

It was Su Youwei.

"Youwei, are you finished with your cultivation?" A smile appeared on Dong Ye's usually indifferent face.

Su Youwei smiled faintly, extended a slender, jade-like finger to point at the scroll in Dong Ye's hand, and said, "Senior Sister Dong Ye, this must be for me, right?"

Dong Ye's smile stiffened, and she said, "Junior Sister Youwei, you are currently cultivating; it's best not to be distracted by unnecessary things. Your future is boundless; if you're delayed because of this, and the Grand Elder blames me, I cannot bear that responsibility."

However, Su Youwei did not reply but simply continued to smile and gaze at her.

Finally, Dong Ye, helpless, could only hand it over, because she knew the girl before her, though seemingly gentle and easy to talk to, was actually extremely resilient and persistent.

Su Youwei took it and carefully perused it. A moment later, a smile bloomed on her beautiful face.

This smile carried genuine joy, its radiance even leaving Dong Ye and the young female disciple beside her stunned.

"His Highness is truly formidable," Su Youwei chuckled softly, a hint of admiration appearing in her bright eyes.

Dong Ye couldn't help but cough and said, "Junior Sister Youwei, you are not who you once were; it's best not to use those old titles anymore."

Su Youwei was currently highly regarded in Purple Cloud Region; even the Grand Elder paid considerable attention to her. In time, she would undoubtedly become a rising star there. While Zhou Yuan's abilities were not small, there was no need to still address him as "His Highness." If outsiders heard this, they might even think Purple Cloud Region was inferior to Tianyuan Region.

Facing Dong Ye's reminder, Su Youwei, who had always presented herself gently, subtly furrowed her crescent-moon-like brows. Then she looked at Dong Ye and said seriously, "Senior Sister Dong Ye, without His Highness, there would be no Su Youwei today. So no matter what my status is now or in the future, my address of 'His Highness' will never change."

Dong Ye froze for a moment; it was clearly the first time she had seen Su Youwei so serious and earnest, which made her feel a little awkward.

"Junior Sister Youwei, I'm doing this for your own good," she said.

Su Youwei shook her head and said, "I appreciate your kindness, Senior Sister Dong Ye... In the future, if anyone brings information about him, please don't stop them again. Although you are responsible for my cultivation, my personal matters are not included in that."

"Moreover... His Highness Zhou Yuan is a true Saint Dragon talent; even in terms of future achievements, I will be far inferior to him, so showing him respect is only proper."

As her voice fell, she gave Dong Ye a slightly apologetic bow, then turned and departed.

Dong Ye watched her graceful figure and couldn't help but stamp her foot, feeling a little annoyed. However, she genuinely wanted to befriend Su Youwei, so it was inappropriate to vent her frustration on her. Thus, she could only direct her annoyance at the unseen Zhou Yuan.

"What Saint Dragon talent..."

"You silly girl, you're probably blinded by him..."

"He merely defeated a good-for-nothing Lu Qing..."

"The Divine Dwelling stage is full of big fish in a small pond. Do you think that kid has the ability to be as impressive in the Heavenly Sun stage as he was in the Divine Dwelling stage?"

On the cliff face, the usually cold and beautiful Dong Ye seemed to have been forced into a nagging shrew by her pent-up frustration.