Chapter 574: Three Forces Converge

"Lü Luo?!" Zhou Yuan's eyes widened in unconcealable surprise as he saw the charming young girl peeking out from among the female disciples of the Hundred Flowers Immortal Palace. It was Lü Luo, the petite figure who had accompanied him to the Saint Continent.

After arriving at the Saint Continent, their group of companions had split up. He had only seen Zuoqiu Qingyu once since then, so he was surprised to encounter Lü Luo here.

"Zhou Yuan, it really is you!" Lü Luo covered her mouth in surprise. When she had heard his name earlier, she hadn't quite believed it. After all, it had only been a little over a year, so how could Zhou Yuan have become the chief disciple of the Cangxuan Sect?

Her pretty face was also filled with joy.

"Lü Luo, you know him?" The gentle, oval-faced woman in front looked at Zhou Yuan with a hint of surprise before quietly asking Lü Luo.

"Yes, Senior Sister Xiaoyan, he's my good friend. We came to the Saint Continent together. I told you before, he's the strongest among the younger generation where we come from!" Lü Luo said excitedly.

The surrounding female disciples of the Hundred Flowers Immortal Palace also gazed curiously at Zhou Yuan's distant figure. Although Lü Luo's seniority in their palace wasn't high, her status was significant. Shortly after joining the sect, both she and Zuoqiu Qingyu had been personally accepted as disciples by the Palace Master. While their current strength might still be developing, they were certainly destined to become Saintess candidates of the Hundred Flowers Immortal Palace. They were all well aware of Lü Luo and Zuoqiu Qingyu's cultivation talents. They often wondered why two individuals of such talent came from an unknown continent. What surprised them most was that these two girls were not even considered the top among the younger generation in that continent. The young man named Zhou Yuan standing before them was, in fact, the most talented of all.

"Look, he's been in the Cangxuan Sect for less than two years and he's already become a chief disciple!" Lü Luo said proudly, her hands on her slender waist.

On her head, the ice-blue little bird also chirped and nodded.

"A seventh-heaven chief disciple is nothing remarkable," Zhao Ru suddenly said in a flat tone. "Such strength wouldn't even qualify one as a chief disciple in some first-rate sects, let alone the Cangxuan Sect. So, I suspect there's something questionable about his chief disciple status."

This time, her words weren't aimed at Zhou Yuan, but at Lü Luo. Zhao Ru had always disliked both Lü Luo and Zuoqiu Qingyu during their time at the Hundred Flowers Immortal Palace. Her strongest aversion, of course, was for Zuoqiu Qingyu, who, despite her youth, possessed an alluring charm that could captivate even women. Moreover, Zuoqiu Qingyu had had minor altercations with Zhao Ru during their time in the palace, further deepening Zhao Ru's resentment. While Lü Luo was slightly more tolerable, her close association and strong bond with Zuoqiu Qingyu inevitably made Zhao Ru dislike her too. Therefore, upon seeing Lü Luo's expression, Zhao Ru couldn't help but sneer mockingly.

Lü Luo's small face flushed red from the mockery. She glared angrily at Zhao Ru and said, "What nonsense are you talking about? Why would Zhou Yuan becoming a chief disciple be questionable?"

Zhao Ru stared back at her, saying, "Have you ever seen a seventh-heaven chief disciple appear among the six major peak sects?"

Lü Luo faltered, then prepared to retort. Although Zhao Ru was a chief disciple, Lü Luo, as a personal disciple of the Palace Master, was not intimidated by her.

Senior Sister Xiaoyan, seeing that the two girls were about to argue, quickly stopped them. Just as she was trying to calm them down, her expression suddenly changed. She raised her face, looking in another direction, and warned, "Be careful, a large number of Genesis Qi fluctuations are approaching, and they are quite powerful!"

Upon hearing this, the disciples of the Hundred Flowers Immortal Palace immediately became alert.

At the same time, on the distant mountain peak, Zhou Yuan and Jin Zhang also became aware and immediately ordered the other disciples to be vigilant.

Under the heightened vigilance of both groups, ripples appeared in the distant void. Soon after, numerous figures swept across the sky, finally landing on a mountain peak, creating a triangular standoff with the two parties already there.

The newly arrived group exuded a formidable aura. At the very front, two figures were most striking. Zhou Yuan's eyes narrowed slightly when he saw one of them.

"It's the Sacred Palace!" he said slowly. That figure was precisely Wang Yuan, whom he had seen before!

As he stared at Wang Yuan, he suddenly felt an intensely cold gaze, like that of a viper, lock onto him. His eyes shifted slightly, revealing the figure standing beside Wang Yuan. It was a smiling man, but his crimson eyes sent a chill down one's spine. Zhou Yuan sensed a dangerous aura emanating from him.

Jin Zhang, who was beside him, also changed his expression slightly and whispered, "Zhou Yuan, be careful. That's Fan Yao!"

Zhou Yuan nodded lightly.

"Heh heh, I didn't expect it to be so lively here," Fan Yao, with his crimson eyes, chuckled as he surveyed the surroundings. "It looks like everyone is here for that Six-Colored Treasure Land, aren't they?"

"So it's Senior Brother Fan Yao of the Sacred Palace." From the Hundred Flowers Immortal Palace side, Zhao Ru's eyes flashed with a hint of surprise when she saw Fan Yao. She was acquainted with him, having even collaborated on a previous mission.

"Junior Sister Zhao Ru."

Fan Yao smiled, cupped his fist in greeting, then turned to the young woman known as Senior Sister Xiaoyan and said, "Junior Sister Tang Xiaoyan."

Tang Xiaoyan looked at Fan Yao, a trace of apprehension flashing deep within her bright eyes. She had clearly heard of this third-ranked chief disciple of the Sacred Palace. However, as he appeared courteous, she also responded with a smile.

"This Six-Colored Treasure Land is quite rare. Senior Brother Fan Yao wouldn't be so petty as to want to monopolize it, would he?" Tang Xiaoyan said gently.

Fan Yao smiled, "Junior Sister Tang, what a thing to say. Your ability to find this place is naturally your good fortune. The ultimate distribution of treasures will, of course, depend on our individual capabilities. Besides, I am quite familiar with Junior Sister Zhao Ru, so how could I do something so unreasonable?"

He appeared extremely cheerful and generous, which made some of the female disciples of the Hundred Flowers Palace develop a strong liking for him. Upon hearing this, a smile also appeared on Zhao Ru's pretty face. Clearly, Fan Yao's words made her feel quite honored.

After exchanging pleasantries with Tang Xiaoyan, Zhao Ru, and the others, Fan Yao's gaze suddenly shifted to the Cangxuan Sect disciples on the other mountain peak, and his eyes gradually grew cold.

"I have no issues with the junior sisters of the Hundred Flowers Immortal Palace being here, but... these unsightly individuals from the Cangxuan Sect..." He lowered his eyelids as blood-red Genesis Qi slowly surged from his body. His indifferent voice carried a chilling, palpable killing intent. "I'll give you half an incense stick's time. Get out of here, and don't stop until you're as far away as possible... Otherwise... then you'll all be buried here."