Chapter 904: War Challenge Heating Up

When the news spread that the Tianyuan Region had accepted the challenge, it predictably caused another stir. Consequently, countless eyes from the surrounding areas of the Tianyuan Region focused on this profoundly significant test.

To other factions, the Tianyuan Region's unyielding acceptance of the challenge, while appearing resolute, seemed overly reckless to discerning individuals. From a certain perspective, this was akin to using one's weakness to attack an opponent's strength.

The Three Mountains Alliance came well-prepared, clearly confident in Chen Xuandong. His ranking on the Divine Dwelling List far surpassed Zhou Yuan's. Although Zhou Yuan defeated Lu Xiao, truthfully, Lu Xiao's strength was likely not even enough to qualify him to face Chen Xuandong.

Zhou Yuan's victory over Lu Xiao didn't necessarily mean he was qualified to contend with Chen Xuandong.

If Zhou Yuan lost this battle, it would be a tremendous loss of face for the Tianyuan Region.

Entrusting the prestige of an entire region to a Divine Dwelling realm practitioner was indeed unwise.

Furthermore, the fact that Chief Pavilion Master Zhou Yuan postponed the fight by a month also seemed to indicate a lack of strong confidence. Was he planning to make a last-minute breakthrough? After all, it was rumored that he had only opened seven Divine Dwellings. While his full potential, once all of them were opened, might indeed make him fearless of Chen Xuandong, unfortunately, time waits for no one.

Others wouldn't foolishly wait for him to grow before initiating a challenge.

Of course, there were also some voices of support. They believed that since the Tianyuan Region dared to accept the challenge, it must have some confidence. Both Zhou Yuan and Chen Xuandong were emerging dark horses; only by clashing would it be revealed who was stronger.

However, such voices were fewer in number, as Zhou Yuan's ranking on the Divine Dwelling List was indeed much lower than Chen Xuandong's.

The credibility of the Divine Dwelling List had remained somewhat convincing over the years.

It was for this reason that when the Tianyuan Region's conditions for accepting the challenge reached the Three Mountains Alliance, the super dark horse Chen Xuandong's immediate reply consisted of just four words.

"Ready when you are."

Still concise and dominant.

Within the Four Pavilions, there was also a commotion due to this matter. However, facing such an external threat, all factions within the Four Pavilions, even the disciples of the Heavenly Spirit Sect, temporarily set aside their prejudices and united against the common enemy. They all understood that Zhou Yuan was currently the leader of their generation of Divine Dwelling realm practitioners in the Tianyuan Region.

If he were to truly lose to Chen Xuandong, the Four Pavilions would also suffer a significant blow to their prestige.

Therefore, even the disciples of the Heavenly Spirit Sect did not wish to see Zhou Yuan fail.

Consequently, encouraging voices echoed throughout the Four Pavilions.

Chief Pavilion Master's Residence.

Yi Qiushui and Ye Bingling, who had arrived, observed the turbulent, almost riotous atmosphere outside. Yi Qiushui's gentle face also appeared somewhat solemn. After a long moment, Ye Bingling quietly asked, "Where is Zhou Yuan?"

"He's been in secluded cultivation for the past month or two," Yi Qiushui sighed softly. She hadn't expected Zhou Yuan to face such a formidable challenge so soon after assuming the position of Chief Pavilion Master. Chen Xuandong was a far more dangerous opponent than Lu Xiao.

"This Three Mountains Alliance is really going too far," Ye Bingling said, gently clenching her teeth.

Such an act of a top-tier force provoking one of the Nine Regions was truly rare in Hunyuan Heaven. Its sudden occurrence filled the people of the Tianyuan Region with a sense of offended fury.

"What did Zhou Yuan say, exactly? I heard he proactively accepted the challenge?" Ye Bingling asked quietly, with a hint of worry.

Although the Three Mountains Alliance was detestable, their move was indeed extremely cunning. After all, if the opponents truly intended a full-scale war, the Tianyuan Region would not fear them, whether in terms of the number of Law Domain experts or the formidable power of Genesis Infant realm experts. However, they precisely struck at the Tianyuan Region's weak spot: its relatively feeble Divine Dwelling realm.

At the Divine Dwelling realm level, even the people of the Tianyuan Region had to admit that they had not performed well in recent years.

Yi Qiushui nodded gently. She had learned everything from her grandfather; the challenge had indeed been accepted by Zhou Yuan.

"Zhou Yuan is not a reckless person," Yi Qiushui said slowly. "This matter is of great importance. If he didn't have a plan, he would never have stepped forward to accept the challenge so easily."

Having known Zhou Yuan for so long, she knew he wasn't someone unwilling to endure. Since he dared to come forward and accept the challenge now, he must have some strategy in mind.

Ye Bingling gave a bitter smile. At this point, hoping was all they could do. After all, Chen Xuandong had specifically challenged Zhou Yuan by name. If Zhou Yuan hadn't accepted, the blow to his prestige would have been even more devastating. The opponent had calculated everything precisely...

But by accepting...

This battle was even more perilous than facing Lu Xiao.

Fire Pavilion.

Lu Xiao, Zuo Ya, Zhu Lian, and others also gathered, their conversation centered on the challenge from Chen Xuandong.

"This Zhou Yuan is truly arrogant. Does he really think becoming Chief Pavilion Master makes him invincible?" Zuo Ya grumbled. Unlike Yi Qiushui and Ye Bingling, who believed in Zhou Yuan, she didn't think he could truly be a match for Chen Xuandong.

In her view, Zhou Yuan's reckless acceptance of the challenge was simply foolish.

If he were to genuinely fail, their generation of Divine Dwelling practitioners in the Tianyuan Region would likely become the laughingstock of Hunyuan Heaven.

Zhu Lian looked at Lu Xiao, whose face showed contemplation, and asked, "Senior Brother Lu Xiao, do you think Zhou Yuan has a chance of winning?"

In this matter, their fates were intertwined with Zhou Yuan's; they would either prosper or suffer together. Therefore, no matter how reluctant they were, at this moment, they could only support Zhou Yuan.

Lu Xiao remained silent for a moment before saying, "It's extremely difficult... If my guess is correct, Chen Xuandong's pure Genesis Qi reserves alone are probably already approaching thirty million Genesis Qi stars..."

Hearing this terrifying figure, both Zuo Ya and Zhu Lian couldn't help but gasp. Genesis Qi reserves nearing thirty million?

What kind of concept was that? Even Lu Xiao's Genesis Qi reserves were only around twenty-three million, yet Chen Xuandong's were approaching thirty million?

"It's not that unbelievable."

Lu Xiao said indifferently, "The top-ranked individuals on the Divine Dwelling List are all known as 'Little Heavenly Suns.' While Chen Xuandong might have some gap compared to them, it's not impossible for his personal Genesis Qi reserves to approach thirty million."

"When Zhou Yuan fought me last time, his Genesis Qi reserves were only twenty-one million. If he can open the eighth Divine Dwelling during this seclusion, it might not be impossible for him to contend with Chen Xuandong."

"However, opening the last two Divine Dwellings is more difficult than opening the first seven combined. As far as I know, Zhou Yuan's seclusion over the past two months has been within the Four Spirits Origin Convergence Tower, so his focus should be on condensing the Mountain Spirit Rune and Forest Spirit Rune. This indicates that his chances of opening the eighth Divine Dwelling are not high..."

"To be honest... even if he successfully condenses all four Origin Runes, I don't believe that kind of enhancement would enable him to defeat Chen Xuandong."

He looked at Zuo Ya and Zhu Lian, slowly shaking his head, his expression grim.

"Therefore, this time..."

"Our new Chief Pavilion Master... might fall."