Chapter 1075: Press Down

The overwhelming Genesis Qi pressure that had filled the hall finally dissipated, but Han Jinhe and the two others were left drenched in sweat and utterly disheveled. The contempt that had previously been in their eyes when they looked at Zhou Yuan was completely gone, replaced instead by profound dread.

They had clearly been utterly overwhelmed by the terrifying Genesis Qi pressure Zhou Yuan unleashed.

A Genesis Qi foundation of 2.3 billion!

And this was merely at the middle Heavenly Sun Stage, not the late stage!

The three of them were considered top-tier among rogue cultivators, yet they had never witnessed such a terrifying Heavenly Sun Stage expert at the middle stage.

Even Guan Qinglong, currently a prominent figure among Heavenly Sun Stage experts, was likely not this formidable during his own middle Heavenly Sun Stage.

At this moment, Han Jinhe and the other two truly understood what a despair-inducing disparity felt like. They had been in the Heavenly Sun Stage for many years, yet Zhou Yuan, who had only reached this stage a little over half a year ago, had now overwhelmingly surpassed them.

On the stone steps of the hall, Zhou Yuan's expression remained impassive, his gaze calmly observing the three disheveled figures below.

Under his watchful eye, Han Jinhe and the two others gradually snapped out of their shock. For a moment, their faces turned ashen, and recalling their earlier arrogant demeanor before Zhou Yuan, they clearly felt like a trio of performing clowns.

Zhou Yuan’s sharp aura softened slightly as he slowly remarked, "Do the three of you now believe that my qualifications to lead the Heavenly Abyss Territory's Heavenly Sun Stage team are sufficient?"

Han Jinhe and the two others exchanged glances. Eventually, with some difficulty, he said, "We were truly shortsighted."

They now fully understood that Elder Zhou Yuan had clearly come prepared to subdue their arrogant spirits. All his previous provocations had merely been setting the stage for this very moment.

Zhou Yuan observed them, his earlier forceful demeanor now largely dissipated. "I understand your desire to be captains; it’s simply a concern that we might issue arbitrary commands and cause you significant losses. However, I believe that my Heavenly Abyss Territory is, after all, one of the Nine Regions and possesses considerable strength. To be blunt, if we genuinely encounter trouble that even we cannot handle, having you serve as cannon fodder would, in reality, change nothing."

Seeing Zhou Yuan no longer as domineering as before, Han Jinhe and the two others relaxed their postures slightly. Although Zhou Yuan’s words subtly implied their insufficient strength, after the display of power, they finally reined in their arrogance. After careful consideration, they realized that Zhou Yuan’s reasoning was not unfounded.

"Furthermore, the position of captain grants the authority to command all forces of the Heavenly Abyss Territory. If too many individuals hold this rank, it would only lead to confused and disjointed orders, which would be detrimental to the overall strategy. That is why we had to decline your request."

Zhou Yuan’s tone was calm and gentle, conveying a sense of serenity.

He understood, however, that if he had been so amiable from the outset, Han Jinhe and the two others might have perceived him as easily exploited and inevitably pushed their luck—a common tactic among rogue cultivators. But now, after Zhou Yuan’s earlier forceful display, even though their expressions remained somewhat sullen, they began to grudgingly accept his reasons for refusal.

Han Jinhe and the two others were somewhat dejected. After all, they hadn't secured the desired position and had instead been disciplined, which was quite a blow to their confidence. They were unsure how they would face their respective supporters outside later.

Zhou Yuan glanced at them, a faint smile on his lips. "Although the captain's position cannot be yours, your strength has indeed earned my recognition. I can appoint you as vice-captains, giving you the authority to command your respective teams. Naturally, all commands must prioritize those issued by Captain Qin Lian and myself."

The Heavenly Abyss Territory had recently recruited numerous rogue cultivators, who were accustomed to their freedom and notoriously arrogant. If he attempted to manage them too strictly, it might easily provoke resistance. However, entrusting their oversight to Han Jinhe and the two others would likely yield better results. Should any conflicts arise, they would direct their grievances towards Han Jinhe’s trio, allowing Zhou Yuan to step in later as a conciliator and win their favor.

Therefore, he had always intended to grant Han Jinhe and the two others a position, but not immediately. He needed to first put them in their place, ensuring they would be compliant and not cause any further trouble.

As anticipated, the dejected Han Jinhe and the two others immediately perked up upon hearing this, looking at Zhou Yuan with renewed spirits. "Vice-captains?"

Zhou Yuan nodded, smiling. "If the three of you don't find the position beneath you, then let’s proceed with that decision."

Han Jinhe and the two others exchanged glances, finally nodding. With a touch of embarrassment, he said, "We were rash earlier. We hope Elder Zhou Yuan won't take offense."

At this point, they had no choice but to yield. After all, the opening of the Ancient Source Heaven was reportedly drawing near, and having personally witnessed Zhou Yuan’s power, they now harbored some expectations for the Heavenly Abyss Territory’s performance there. If they could seize valuable opportunities, even acting as subordinates would be an acceptable trade-off.

For rogue cultivators like them, the chance to grow stronger was worth enduring anything.

Zhou Yuan nodded with a smile. "As for the rogue cultivators outside, you three can proceed to organize them into teams."

Han Jinhe and the two others nodded repeatedly, thumping their chests. "Elder Zhou Yuan, rest assured, we will ensure everything is arranged properly."

With that, the trio quickly exited the hall.

Zhou Yuan watched their departing figures, then let out a soft chuckle.

Beside him, Qin Lian tilted her head slightly and clapped her hands softly, a rare smile gracing her coolly elegant face. "Elder Zhou Yuan, your strategy of delivering a harsh lesson followed by a sweet reward is truly masterful."

Zhou Yuan simply shrugged with a smile.

Qin Lian’s gaze lingered on Zhou Yuan, a glint of eagerness in her eyes. "However, I'm more curious about the extent of your current strength. Shall we have a spar to find out?"

While Zhou Yuan’s strength had previously lagged significantly behind Qin Lian’s, she could now sense a dangerous aura emanating from him, which undoubtedly ignited her competitive spirit.

Noticing Qin Lian’s intense gaze, which seemed almost to melt him, Zhou Yuan felt a slight chill. He quickly shook his head and turned to leave.

However, no sooner had he moved than an astonishing burst of Genesis Qi erupted behind him, roaring directly in his direction.

While Zhou Yuan was fending off the belligerent Qin Lian inside the hall, Han Jinhe and the two others had already returned to the floor below.

There, hundreds of top-tier rogue cultivators saw them emerge and immediately swarmed around them.

"Brother Han, what happened? Did the Heavenly Abyss Territory grant you the captain position?"

Han Jinhe looked at the crowd, his expression composed. "Rest assured, everyone. The Heavenly Abyss Territory still values us highly. Earlier, we spent quite some time advocating for your interests with Elder Zhou Yuan."

"Elder Zhou Yuan? He's here too?" many rogue cultivators exclaimed in surprise. Regardless of Zhou Yuan’s strength, his status as an elder alone was enough to command reverence, especially given that this was the Heavenly Abyss Territory's domain.

Han Jinhe smiled and nodded. "Elder Zhou Yuan certainly lives up to his reputation. The three of us even sparred with him. His strength is truly astounding. I believe that under his and Captain Qin Lian's leadership, the Heavenly Abyss Territory's team will undoubtedly achieve impressive results in this Ancient Source Heaven competition. We have certainly come to the right place."

These words immediately caused the top-tier rogue cultivators present to look astonished. Han Jinhe’s trio had sparred with Zhou Yuan? They were well aware of the trio’s combined strength, knowing that together, they could likely contend even with Qin Lian, the strongest Heavenly Sun Stage expert in the Heavenly Abyss Territory. Hadn’t Elder Zhou Yuan previously been only at the early Heavenly Sun Stage?

From Han Jinhe’s tone, why was he praising Zhou Yuan’s strength so highly?

Many rogue cultivators looked uncertain and suspicious, yet they didn't doubt Han Jinhe’s words, as a lie would be too easily exposed. If that was the case, then Zhou Yuan’s strength must have vastly improved in just the past few months.

This was not an impossibility. After all, he was Grand Elder Cang Yuan’s direct disciple, and currently, Grand Elder Zhuan Zhu—Zhou Yuan’s senior martial brother—was also stationed in the Heavenly Abyss Territory. It would be impossible for him not to personally guide Zhou Yuan.

Upon this realization, many arrogant rogue cultivators couldn't help but temper their attitudes. As rogue cultivators, they understood the principle of 'the strong rule' even more profoundly.

"Heh heh, with Elder Zhou Yuan and Captain Qin Lian overseeing, the three of us will no longer contend for the captain’s position. Fortunately, Elder Zhou Yuan values us and has appointed us three to vice-captain roles, specifically responsible for the rogue cultivators. Everyone can now register with us, and once teams are formed, they will still need to be reported to Elder Zhou Yuan," Han Jinhe stated nonchalantly.

Xue Qingmei and Wang Su’s faces were slightly flushed. While they had clearly been taught a lesson by Zhou Yuan, Han Jinhe’s retelling completely changed the meaning.

However, the rogue cultivators present didn't dwell on it; instead, they were all overjoyed. After all, to them, a vice-captain was nearly equivalent to a captain, and being led by familiar faces like Han Jinhe and his group was preferable to being ordered around by strangers.

Meanwhile, in a corner, several rogue cultivators who had been coolly observing Han Jinhe’s group secretly breathed a sigh of relief upon witnessing the scene. They had initially disapproved of the trio’s attempt to claim the captaincy, but given their considerable strength and reputation, they could only watch. They had also worried that if Han Jinhe’s negotiations failed, their own interests would be jeopardized. Fortunately, the worst-case scenario had not materialized.

However, observing the unfolding scene, they appeared to be deep in thought.

Based on their understanding of Han Jinhe, who was notoriously arrogant and unyielding, his current high praise for Zhou Yuan could only signify one thing: that in the short time spent with him, their defiance had likely been utterly shattered by Zhou Yuan.

This left them feeling secretly curious and somewhat pleased.

If this truly was the case, then in the upcoming Ancient Source Heaven competition, the Heavenly Abyss Territory might well become one of Hunyuan Heaven’s primary forces.