Chapter 1078: Encountering Two Women Again

“Guan Qinglong…”

Zhou Yuan looked at the man standing behind him, a tall and straight figure with a slight smile. Zhou Yuan’s gaze was solemn. At such close proximity, Guan Qinglong felt like a fierce beast, exuding a brutal sense of oppression that could make even ordinary Heavenly Sun experts standing before him feel weak in the knees.

The top-ranked expert on the Heavenly Sun List truly lived up to his reputation.

Qin Lian’s eyes also sharpened at this moment. She stepped half a pace diagonally, staring at Guan Qinglong. It was clear that she was extremely wary of him.

Inside the stone hall, many eyes watched this scene with sudden interest. The meeting hadn’t even begun, yet were Tianyuan Region and Wushen Region about to clash? Clearly, Tianyuan Region’s representatives seemed outmatched; although Qin Lian was powerful, there was still a significant gap between her and Guan Qinglong.

However, as Zhou Yuan and Guan Qinglong’s gazes met, Wu Yao’s crescent-like brows furrowed slightly. She said, “Senior Brother Guan, this is a matter between Zhou Yuan and me. I believe neither of us wishes for external forces to interfere.”

“Who wins or loses, lives or dies, will depend solely on our own abilities.”

Guan Qinglong was not surprised by Wu Yao’s reaction, clearly knowing her temperament. He smiled, his voice calm, “Junior Sister Wu Yao speaks too harshly. Deciding victory and defeat is fine, but there’s no need for life and death, is there? If it truly comes to that, even if you blame me, I cannot simply stand by.”

Then he looked at Zhou Yuan, cupped his fists, and said, “Elder Zhou Yuan, if it truly comes to that, please show mercy.”

Zhou Yuan chuckled, “This one isn’t so easy to deal with. I’m afraid if I take a step back, she’ll just finish me off.” He subtly scanned the two of them, keenly noticing that Guan Qinglong seemed excessively concerned about Wu Yao, but Wu Yao didn’t seem particularly receptive to it…

Guan Qinglong smiled and said no more. He didn’t intentionally linger, but instead strode directly towards the black round table. His powerful, confident gait was extraordinary, drawing admiring glances from many beautiful women present.

Guan Qinglong might not have been conventionally handsome, but his charisma transcended mere physical appearance.

Even Zhou Yuan secretly nodded. For Guan Qinglong to suppress numerous prodigies and firmly hold the top spot on the Heavenly Sun List, he indeed possessed unique qualities. He bore some resemblance to Zhao Mushen before the Nine Regions Grand Meeting, but compared to Zhao Mushen, Guan Qinglong was clearly more composed, which undoubtedly made him even more unfathomable.

Zhou Yuan turned his gaze to Wu Yao and chuckled, “Your Senior Brother is quite troublesome. If you both come at me, I might have to avoid you first.”

Wu Yao’s voice was cold. “Do you think I’m like you? Back in the Great Wu Imperial City, if it weren’t for your confidante helping you, I would have killed you long ago.” She was clearly referring to the time Yaoyao intervened to help.

Zhou Yuan blinked and said righteously, “Can you be like us? We’re mutually in love. What about you? What’s your relationship with this Guan Qinglong?”

Wu Yao’s willow-like eyebrows twitched slightly, and she glared fiercely at Zhou Yuan. “Shameless.” This guy’s audacity was truly thick.

She then wasted no more time, brushing past him directly.

Zhou Yuan watched her slender, willow-like figure and shrugged. However, since their last encounter, the usual bloodthirsty aura between them had diminished when they met again. Perhaps it was because Wu Yao felt he had held back last time… But that was actually out of his control; after all, he couldn’t possibly kill Wu Yao under the watchful eye of Grand Elder Wushen…

Yet, if he were to defeat Wu Yao again and reclaim the last wisp of Saint Dragon Qi, she would likely still perish, wouldn’t she? Would Grand Elder Wushen then resent him?

Zhou Yuan scratched his head, a little troubled. He actually wished the relationship between him and Wu Yao was still filled with animosity, so at least when they fought, he wouldn’t have to hold back. That way, he could retaliate and kill her without any psychological burden…

“You and Wu Yao certainly have quite a history,” Qin Lian, who was beside him, suddenly said with interest.

“Guan Qinglong also seems to have an interest in her. Tsk, tsk, that’s truly rare. I’ve known that guy for so many years and have never heard of him being entangled with any woman. He seems like a stone, never stirred by emotion… But Wu Yao is indeed a peerless beauty, both in appearance and temperament.”

Qin Lian stared at Zhou Yuan, unusually becoming gossipy. “Are you three the legendary love triangle?”

The corner of Zhou Yuan’s mouth twitched slightly. Too lazy to bother with her, he simply walked away.

Qin Lian, however, quickly followed, her voice seeming somewhat sympathetic. “But your opponent is actually Guan Qinglong. I don’t think you can win, can you? With his strength and demeanor, I feel you’ll probably suffer a crushing defeat.”

A vein throbbed on Zhou Yuan’s forehead, and he gritted his teeth. “I don’t have that kind of relationship with her! We’re sworn enemies! Do you know what a sworn enemy is? It’s the kind where either she dies or I die!”

“Lovers who kill each other? That sounds like something from a storybook.”

Zhou Yuan’s face darkened. He truly hadn’t expected the usually cold and aloof Qin Lian to be so gossipy and talkative about such matters. He immediately dared not engage her further, quickly quickening his pace.

The two walked one after another, ascending layers of stone steps.

Zhou Yuan’s gaze swept over the central black round table. Guan Qinglong was already seated there, while Wu Yao sat in the row behind. Clearly, those at the round table were the representatives of various forces.

Zhou Yuan pondered for a moment, then shifted his steps towards a nearby stone seat.

But as soon as he moved, Qin Lian grabbed his arm.

“What are you doing?” Zhou Yuan asked helplessly.

Qin Lian’s slender finger pointed at the main seat at the black stone table. “What are you kidding about? You’re an Elder of our Tianyuan Region, much higher in status than me. If you don’t sit there, do you think I’d dare?”

Zhou Yuan couldn’t help but roll his eyes. ‘Don’t you know I’m just a mascot Elder?! Outside Tianyuan Region, would anyone in Hunyuan Heaven actually take a Heavenly Sun stage Elder of Tianyuan Region seriously?’

But Qin Lian couldn’t be bothered to say more. She pushed him twice, then quickly took the seat behind the main one.

Zhou Yuan, having no choice, stepped forward and sat down at the black round table, under the gaze of many.

Playful glances circulated around him, but no one said anything. Although Zhou Yuan’s mid-Heavenly Sun stage strength seemed remarkably out of place in that position, Tianyuan Region was no longer what it once was. With Zhuan Zhu’s return as a Saint, Tianyuan Region’s influence had greatly increased, so there was no strong reason to offend them further.

Zhou Yuan ignored the stares, closing his eyes to rest, waiting for the meeting to begin.

This wait lasted for a while. Suddenly, he heard some commotion in the hall and immediately opened his eyes, looking in the direction of the disturbance.

There, two graceful figures arrived together.

The first figure had a pleasant appearance, but her aura was excessively cold; the chill emanating from her seemed to almost freeze the air, causing many to shiver inwardly.

More gazes, however, were directed at the figure a step behind her.

That was a girl in a purple dress. Her face was exquisitely beautiful, and her figure beneath the purple dress was graceful, with a slender waist and strikingly long legs. Unlike Wu Yao, her temperament was gentle and soft. If Wu Yao was a fiery, vibrant ruby, then she was a soothing, warm piece of mutton-fat jade.

Her appearance also drew many admiring glances, with numerous men eagerly observing her.

However, their gazes were quickly noticed by the cold woman walking in front. Her eyes, filled with palpable chill, swept over them, and immediately, many figures like quails retracted their stares.

When Zhou Yuan saw the girl in the purple dress, a look of delight immediately appeared on his face.

For the girl in the purple dress was precisely Su Youwei.

And as Su Youwei entered, she too was searching for a particular figure. Almost simultaneously, she spotted Zhou Yuan, and joy immediately blossomed on her delicate face. Her small, red lips couldn’t help but curve into a slight smile, and she playfully winked at Zhou Yuan, looking charming and captivating.

Zhou Yuan grinned back at her.

But before his smile fully formed, he saw the woman in front of Su Youwei, who was like a thousand-year-old block of ice, lock onto him with eyes like ice blades, seemingly unfriendly and warning.

Zhou Yuan was a little bewildered. He recognized the woman: Dong Ye of Zixiao Region, third on the Heavenly Sun List.

But he didn’t seem to have any grievances with her, did he? Why did she look so resentful?

Zhou Yuan felt puzzled, but he could only somewhat restrain his gaze, merely giving Su Youwei a slight nod.

As the representative of Zixiao Region also entered, in the following time, one renowned figure after another from Hunyuan Heaven made their appearance. Consequently, the entire stone hall began to buzz with activity, and the black round table gradually filled up.

It was truly a gathering of heroes.

The previous Nine Regions Grand Meeting seemed much weaker by comparison, but this was not surprising; the Heavenly Sun stage was inherently much more profound than the Divine Palace stage…

“Oh, look, everyone’s quite punctual.”

Just as the hall grew lively, a grinning voice suddenly rang out, and then everyone saw a man in a flowery shirt walk in with a smile.

The man in the flowery shirt appeared somewhat lackadaisical, his peach blossom eyes carrying an unsettling malevolence.

The moment this person appeared, a look of apprehension flashed in the eyes of many in the stone hall.

For the newcomer was none other than Wang Xuanyang, the leading figure among the Heavenly Sun experts of Wanzu Region, ranked second on the Heavenly Sun List.

Wang Xuanyang toyed with a black and white fan in his hand, his gaze sweeping across the hall. It paused slightly as it passed over Wu Yao and Su Youwei.

Zhou Yuan’s gaze also paused on Wang Xuanyang, then suddenly darted back. He saw a familiar figure standing there.

That tall, straight figure, with sculpted features and a dazzling, sun-like handsomeness, was precisely Zhao Mushen.

However, the current Zhao Mushen seemed much more subdued than before. With his hands tucked into his sleeves, he stood quietly behind Wang Xuanyang, drawing no attention. Yet, for some reason, facing this Zhao Mushen, Zhou Yuan felt he was even more dangerous than before.

“This guy…”

Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly.

And as Zhou Yuan’s gaze lingered on Zhao Mushen, the latter’s eyes also flickered, then he looked over, meeting Zhou Yuan’s stare.

However, facing this formidable rival who had previously defeated him, Zhao Mushen showed no trace of anger. He merely gave Zhou Yuan a deep look before slowly retracting his gaze, his profound eyes lingering more on Wang Xuanyang’s back in front of him.

“This time’s Ancient Origin Heaven competition seems even more interesting than the Nine Regions Grand Meeting…” Zhou Yuan stroked his chin.

Under the many wary gazes, Wang Xuanyang nonchalantly took the last empty seat at the black round table. He leaned back against the armrest, playing with his black and white jade fan, and his malevolent peach blossom eyes swept around the black stone table, finally resting with a smile on Zhou Yuan.

“Since when did a mid-Heavenly Sun stage cultivator get to sit at a meeting of top Heavenly Sun experts?” he asked with a casual laugh.

When his words rang out, many in the stone hall subtly twitched an eyelid.

This Wang Xuanyang had actually directly challenged Zhou Yuan of Tianyuan Region…