Chapter 913: The Great Enemy

As the repercussions of Zhou Yuan’s battle with Chen Xuandong created increasingly large waves in Hunyuantian, Zhou Yuan, as the instigator, once again kept a low profile. His presence was rarely seen even in Tianyuan Dongtian, which greatly disappointed many who had recently come to Tianyuan Dongtian out of admiration.

The Chief Pavilion Master’s Residence.

On the rooftop terrace of the residence, Zhou Yuan was leisurely lying on a lounge chair, basking in the sun. However, his expression wasn't as relaxed, as he was looking at the scroll in his hand.

It was the latest version of the Divine Dwelling List. Compared to the previous version, the only change was that his position had been elevated to ninth.

However, Zhou Yuan didn’t pay much attention to this. His gaze was focused more on the names ranked among the top eight.

Currently, the Nine Regions Grand Meeting had become the most popular topic in Hunyuantian. It was a true grand event, drawing the attention of countless factions across Hunyuantian. After all, in a sense, it was a competition at the Nine Regions level. Although this competition was only for the Divine Dwelling stage, it undoubtedly represented the pinnacle of that stage.

Compared to the Genesis Infant stage and the Law Domain stage, the Divine Dwelling stage might seem insignificant, but everyone knew its importance.

This was because it represented the fresh blood of a faction. The more outstanding a Divine Dwelling stage practitioner was, the further they might go in the future. This was the most fundamental foundation for every faction, one that even the Nine Regions dared not ignore.

To cultivate these prodigies currently ranked at the top of the Divine Dwelling List, the Nine Regions must have invested a considerable amount of time and effort.

Take Su Youwei, for example. To scour for these talents with monstrous potential, Zixiao Region even sent people to Cangxuantian to search. From this, one can see how great the effort involved was.

Zhou Yuan intently stared at the eight names ranked ahead of him. In truth, besides the names, the Divine Dwelling List didn't reveal much information. However, he subtly felt a sense of pressure. Although he was somewhat reluctant to admit it, he had to concede that in recent years, Tianyuan Region had indeed been gradually falling behind the other eight regions.

This point was most clearly demonstrated by the Divine Dwelling List.

As for the Heavenly Sun List and Genesis Infant List, they were slightly better, especially the latter. After all, most of those who made it onto those lists had been cultivating for a considerable period. Once they secured a spot, they could hold it for decades or even a century. Only the Divine Dwelling List was the youngest, with the fastest turnover. From this, one could discern Tianyuan Region's weakness and decline...

Wanzu Region, Zhao Mu Shen.Wushen Region, Wu Yao.Zixiao Region, Su Youwei.Xuehai Region, Wang Xi.Shengwen Region, Li Tongshen.Xuanji Region, Jiugong.Yaogui Region, Xu Ming.Beast Control Region, Yuan Kun.

These were the formidable individuals ranked among the top eight. Every one of them had a renowned reputation in Hunyuantian. They were the monstrous prodigies meticulously cultivated by the other eight regions. Compared to them, Chen Xuandong still lacked significant experience.

And they would be Zhou Yuan's formidable adversaries at this Nine Regions Grand Meeting.

After all, Zhou Yuan's goal was to emerge as the champion of the Nine Regions Grand Meeting. He didn't actually want to be so ostentatious, but he had no choice, as he wanted to obtain the Ancestral Dragon Lantern.

“What a hassle,” Zhou Yuan sighed softly. Facing these monstrous talents in the top eight, even he felt the pressure. Despite having condensed four patterns this time, and even discovering the second form of the four patterns, it was still somewhat insufficient to contend with these monstrous talents based solely on that.

Especially the top three.

Although he still didn't know Su Youwei's current attitude towards him, he was bound to have a confrontation with Zhao Mu Shen and Wu Yao at the Nine Regions Grand Meeting.

However, Zhou Yuan was not without his advantages now. His advantage was that he still possessed the potential of two more layers of Divine Dwellings. Whereas those currently ranked ahead had already opened all nine layers of Divine Dwellings. This gave them formidable strength, but it also indicated that their potential in the Divine Dwelling stage was beginning to reach its limit.

After breaking through all nine Divine Dwellings in the Divine Dwelling stage, if one still wished to further increase their Genesis Qi foundation, they would require greater opportunities. The effort and investment required would also be much larger.

In fact, many, without sufficient opportunities after breaking through all nine Divine Dwellings, found their Genesis Qi foundation increasing only slightly or even stagnating for a long time!

Taking another step forward from the pinnacle was the most difficult!

Yet at this critical juncture, even a slight improvement would yield tenfold or even hundredfold returns when entering the Heavenly Sun stage in the future.

Fortunately for Zhou Yuan, his Divine Dwelling potential had not yet been exhausted. As long as he opened up the final two layers of Divine Dwellings, his strength would experience a surge, and then the gap between him and these individuals would be infinitely narrowed.

As Zhou Yuan meticulously observed the names on the Divine Dwelling List, the void before him rippled slightly, and a heroic and slender figure emerged.

“Senior Sister Xi Jing,” Zhou Yuan looked up, stood, and smiled.

“You seem quite at ease,” Xi Jing said. “You’re quite the celebrity in our Tianyuan Region these days.”

Zhou Yuan pursed his lips and said, “Celebrity? If I perform poorly at the Nine Regions Grand Meeting and end up at the bottom again, I’ll probably fall from the clouds into the mud instantly, becoming an object of scorn.”

The higher you climb, the harder you fall.

Xi Jing smiled. “You see things quite clearly, it seems you haven’t become too proud.”

She glanced at the Divine Dwelling List in Zhou Yuan’s hand, then ran a slender finger through her wine-red short hair, saying teasingly, “What’s wrong? Are you intimidated by your opponents? It might still be not too late to back out now.”

Zhou Yuan smiled faintly. “Isn’t this why I came to Hunyuantian?”

Counting the time, it had been over a year since he arrived in Tianyuan Region. In this year, he hadn’t rested for a moment; he had continuously strived and climbed.

Was he tired? Certainly, but Zhou Yuan never thought of relaxing. Because whenever he thought of Yaoyao still lying in that cold Glazed Mystic Ice Coffin, the heartache would eclipse all fatigue.

In the past, she had protected him, but now, it was his turn to do something for her.

Xi Jing glanced at Zhou Yuan’s face. She could sense a story in his eyes, as she had also witnessed his relentless efforts, but she didn’t pry or ask anything.

“The Three Mountains Alliance’s provocation of Tianyuan Region this time must be orchestrated by a powerful figure,” Xi Jing said slowly. Her smooth, jade-like cheeks grew solemn.

Hearing this, Zhou Yuan’s smile also faded. To be able to manipulate a top faction like the Three Mountains Alliance as a pawn showed the strength of the powerful figure behind it. However, in all of Hunyuantian, those capable of such feats were few and far between, likely one of the other eight regions’ grand cultivators.

“Do you know who it is?” Zhou Yuan asked.

Xi Jing shook her head slightly. “It’s hard to guess. Their actions are merely an attempt to force Master to show himself.”

Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly. If they wanted to force Master to appear, there was a high probability it involved Yaoyao. He knew that Master Cang Yuan had been in hiding for many years, primarily because of Yaoyao.

Yaoyao’s identity was too mysterious and involved too much; even the peak existences of Hunyuantian were scheming for it.

“It seems I must win the championship at this Nine Regions Grand Meeting and obtain the Ancestral Dragon Lantern first, or else delays might lead to complications,” Zhou Yuan said softly.

His identity should not have been exposed yet; otherwise, those powerful figures wouldn’t remain idle. After all, he was merely a small Divine Dwelling stage practitioner. Therefore, he had to win the championship of the Nine Regions Grand Meeting and get the Ancestral Dragon Lantern before they became aware of him!

Once the Ancestral Dragon Lantern was in his hands, his first mission in Hunyuantian would be successful. Even if danger arose then, he could have Xi Jing send him out of Hunyuantian first.

Xi Jing nodded. “I’m just worried that if their probe fails this time, their subsequent methods will become even more drastic.”

“That’s inevitable, so Senior Sister Xi Jing must make more preparations and proceed with caution,” Zhou Yuan said calmly. “Such a high-level game would not be given up easily.”

They exchanged glances, both looking solemn, clearly feeling immense pressure. After all, in a game of that caliber, even Xi Jing, a powerful Law Domain stage practitioner, felt somewhat powerless, let alone Zhou Yuan, a mere Divine Dwelling stage practitioner?

Fortunately, both of them knew that as long as Cang Yuan was still present, the opposing side wouldn’t dare to go too far. Otherwise, if a Saint was truly pushed to desperation, the price to pay would likely be unbearable.

Xi Jing sighed softly, no longer dwelling on the heavy topic. Changing the subject, she asked, “How much do you know about the Nine Regions Grand Meeting?”

Zhou Yuan shook his head. “Isn’t it just the Divine Dwelling prodigies from the Nine Regions battling it out?”

Xi Jing rolled her eyes at him and said slowly, “Don’t underestimate this Nine Regions Grand Meeting, because it contains the greatest opportunity for those in the Divine Dwelling stage. For an ambitious person like you, it’s truly a once-in-a-lifetime chance.”

“Oh?”

Xi Jing spoke softly.

“Do you know about the Innate Spiritual Mechanism?”