Chapter 997: Recruitment Order

The atmosphere in the main hall was somewhat stagnant. At this moment, even Sect Master Xuankun, Bai Ye, and Bian Chang felt an unspeakable sensation. They gazed at Zhou Yuan's youthful face, their lips twitching almost imperceptibly.

They had never imagined that one day they would be on equal footing with a junior at the Divine Dwelling stage.

So, what kind of attitude should they adopt when facing Zhou Yuan now?

As peers?

But how could they ignore Zhou Yuan's strength at the Divine Dwelling stage?

In the past, Sect Master Xuankun could casually reprimand Zhou Yuan, but what about now?

Facing this situation, even these three Law Domain experts felt extremely awkward. At the same time, they couldn't help but inwardly grumble about the rules established by Grand Elder Cang Yuan back then—it truly seemed a bit childish.

As the three elders fell into conflicted silence, Zhou Yuan smiled faintly and said, "Elders, although Master established the rules back then, I don't need the status of an elder, so there's no need to announce to the outside world that the Tianyuan Region has a sixth elder."

Hearing Zhou Yuan's words, Sect Master Xuankun and the other two's somewhat stiff faces immediately relaxed, clearly breathing a sigh of relief.

"The reason we are announcing this matter now," Zhou Yuan continued, "is simply because the Tianyuan Region will soon face a major war. My appearance will tell many people that Grand Elder Cang Yuan has not fallen; he is still alive and well, just temporarily unable to appear in Hunyuan Heaven."

Zhou Yuan gazed at the three, slowly saying, "In this way, those with ulterior motives should be deterred and won't dare to act rashly during this period."

Sect Master Xuankun and the other two exchanged glances and nodded gently.

Patriarch Bai Ye smiled, saying, "Zhou Yuan... young friend, what you said makes sense. If this news gets out, it can completely stabilize the morale of the Tianyuan Region."

Evidently, he was also conflicted about how to address Zhou Yuan. After all, if it were the old Zhou Yuan, even as the Chief of the Four Pavilions, his status would never have caught Bai Ye's attention. But now that Zhou Yuan had the identity of Grand Elder Cang Yuan's direct disciple, it was different.

Strictly speaking, their statuses were almost equal.

If Zhou Yuan insisted on taking the position of the sixth elder, they would have very little reason to stop him.

Sect Master Xuankun coughed dryly, saying with some difficulty, "So you are a direct disciple of the Grand Elder; no wonder you are so outstanding. In that case, it's really not shameful that the geniuses of my Tianling Sect have been repeatedly suppressed by you."

His tone was a bit stiff, but his attitude was undoubtedly much better than before. Clearly, he also wanted to save face.

After all, even Law Domain experts had to accept the harsh reality!

Patriarch Bian Chang also gradually accepted this fact and then asked, "Young friend Zhou Yuan, may I ask when the Grand Elder will be able to return?"

As soon as he spoke, almost everyone looked at Zhou Yuan. This was the most important question! As long as Grand Elder Cang Yuan could return, all problems in the Tianyuan Region would be resolved.

Zhou Yuan pondered and said, "Master cannot return for now. The matter at hand is extremely significant, likely a struggle between the Grand Elders. However, one thing is certain: Master is unharmed."

Sect Master Xuankun and the others all nodded. Although there was some regret, getting the news that the Grand Elder was safe was the most crucial thing.

Patriarch Bian Chang's crystal-like eyes surged with mystic light, causing the void to ripple. He said, "To receive news of the Grand Elder at this time is truly excellent. Elder Xi Jing, for this war, my Tianyuan Region will certainly fight with all its might. Since those five dogs from the Myriad Ancestors Domain dare to bite recklessly, it's time for them to experience what it means to be utterly defeated!"

A surging murderous intent boiled in his words.

Sect Master Xuankun said lightly, "Speaking of which, it's been a long time since a Law Domain expert has fallen in Hunyuan Heaven."

His words carried a hint of arrogance, as if he regarded the Law Domain experts from the five major top forces as nothing. However, as a seasoned Law Domain expert who had also received guidance from Grand Elder Cang Xuan, he indeed seemed to possess such qualifications.

Patriarch Bai Ye also smiled and nodded.

Patriarch Mu Ni said elegantly, "Speaking of which, Hong Jiuyuan was injured back then and even came to me for treatment. If I had known this, I should have crippled him back then."

Seeing the stance of these senior figures, Zhou Yuan secretly grinned. It was clear that as Law Domain experts from the Nine Regions, they didn't seem to hold the Law Domain experts from the top forces in particularly high regard. At the very least, if it came to a one-on-one fight, these five present would likely not fear any Law Domain expert from the five major top forces.

Xi Jing also nodded, finally drawing a conclusion.

"Within the next few days," she declared, "all Divine Dwelling, Heavenly Sun, and Nascent Source experts from various prefectures, sects, and clans must gather in the Tianyuan Cave Heaven, ready for war at any moment!"

Not long after Xi Jing returned to the Tianyuan Cave Heaven, news regarding the five major top forces' challenge to the Tianyuan Region quickly spread throughout its nine hundred prefectures.

The entire Tianyuan Region was shaken.

No one had expected that someone would launch a war against the Tianyuan Region, one of the Nine Regions!

This sparked a furious sense of offense among countless people in the Tianyuan Region. After all, as people of the Tianyuan Region, they too held the pride of being one of the Nine Regions. The actions of the five major top forces were undoubtedly a provocation from a pack of wolves against a lion or tiger!

However, many also harbored worries. These people were more perceptive; they could sense that there seemed to be a hint of conspiracy behind this sudden war.

The five major top forces were merely henchmen of the Myriad Ancestors Domain!

While the Myriad Ancestors Domain had Grand Elder Myriad Ancestor, Grand Elder Cang Yuan of the Tianyuan Region had been missing for many years, his fate unknown. This couldn't help but cause many to worry: Why did the five major top forces dare to provoke them like this? Could it be that they were certain Grand Elder Cang Yuan could not return?

Thus, in the turbulent Tianyuan Region, while countless people raged at the provocation from the five major top forces, clamoring for retaliation, much apprehension and unease also surged beneath the surface.

In the following days, the defenses of the Tianyuan Cave Heaven instantly became rigorous. All teleportation arrays were temporarily sealed off. Simultaneously, a large number of Tianyuan Region's hidden guards moved throughout the Tianyuan Cave Heaven, beginning to root out spies placed there by the five major top forces.

Xi Jing and the others had actually been aware of these spies for some time, but during peacetime, these spies posed no threat, so they were allowed to remain.

But now that war was about to begin, the five major top forces had been directly listed as enemies of the Tianyuan Region. Thus, there was naturally no need to show mercy to these spies.

Therefore, in some areas of the Tianyuan Cave Heaven over these few days, violent surges of Genesis Qi would occasionally erupt, but they would quickly be suppressed.

These spies, within the Tianyuan Region's stronghold, evidently didn't even have the ability to escape.

Furthermore, in these past few days, more and more Divine Dwelling, Heavenly Sun, and Nascent Source experts hurried to the Tianyuan Cave Heaven from all directions. This directly led to the Tianyuan Cave Heaven being almost overflowing with people, and the entire space was filled with the aura of war.

On a floating island in the northwest of the Tianyuan Cave Heaven.

There was only one massive plaza on the island. And now, on this plaza, a dense mass of people stretched from one end of sight to the other, appearing endless. The sheer scale was so immense it made one's scalp tingle.

Moreover, each of these individuals had powerful Genesis Qi surging around them, and their strength was all at the Divine Dwelling stage or higher!

Under Xi Jing's summons, various clans, sects, and other forces within the Tianyuan Region had sent all eligible experts to the Tianyuan Cave Heaven.

At the southwest corner of the plaza.

All the members of the Four Pavilions were gathered there.

Almost all of the Four Pavilions members were at the Divine Dwelling stage, and they were the elite among the younger generation of Divine Dwelling experts. So, when gathered here, they were all strong and imposing, their aura not weak at all.

Of course, most importantly, the tall, slender figure standing at the very front of the Four Pavilions not only drew countless respectful gazes from the Divine Dwelling experts throughout the plaza, but even some Heavenly Sun experts looked on with curiosity.

Naturally, it was Zhou Yuan.

The reason he garnered such attention was naturally because he had defeated Zhao Mushen and claimed first place at the Nine Regions Grand Assembly.

One must know that since its establishment, the Tianyuan Region's best performance at the Nine Regions Grand Assembly had only been third place. As for first place, it had never been achieved...

This honor, which the Tianyuan Region had never attained even during its most prosperous period, was surprisingly achieved during its weakest period. How could this not leave people utterly astonished?

Zhou Yuan seemed oblivious to the countless gazes of awe, while Ye Bingling, Yi Qiushui, and others beside him looked proud.

"Tsk tsk, the power of this summons is truly immense," Mu Liu, standing nearby, gazed at the vast crowd on the plaza and couldn't help but exclaim. "So many of those talented figures from back then have appeared now."

On this plaza now, many had once been part of the Four Pavilions and were prominent figures within it. After leaving the Four Pavilions, these individuals were assigned to various posts throughout the Tianyuan Region, each with their own duties, rarely seen on ordinary days. Yet now, all of them had been called.

Mu Liu turned to Zhou Yuan with a grin, teasingly saying, "But no matter how renowned someone is, they can't compare to you, our Chief Pavilion Master, who made history."

"Isn't that right, Lu Xiao?"

Lu Xiao, who had been quietly hiding on the side without interjecting, saw that Mu Liu had still dragged him into the conversation. His face stiffened and twitched slightly. He ignored Mu Liu, instead constantly glancing around, his eyes appearing somewhat nervous.

"What are you doing?" Han Yuan couldn't help but ask.

He noticed that Lu Xiao's state was a bit off today, appearing anxious and fearful. And it wasn't just him; even other Tianling Sect disciples in the Four Pavilions were cowering.

Zhou Yuan also looked at them with a puzzled gaze.

Seeing Zhou Yuan's questioning gaze, Lu Xiao whispered with a troubled expression, "Elder Xi Jing issued a summons order; all Divine Dwelling, Heavenly Sun, and Nascent Source experts must come today..."

He swallowed hard and said, "That means... Senior Sister Qin Lian will also appear."

When he uttered that name, Zhou Yuan noticed that the Tianling Sect disciples secretly shivered, as if the temperature of the air had dropped by several degrees...

Mu Liu and Han Yuan's expressions also changed, and they gasped. Looking at Lu Xiao with sympathy, they said, "You should quickly apply for secluded cultivation."

Hearing this, Lu Xiao was somewhat tempted.

Zhou Yuan, however, shook his head and pointed a finger towards a parting crowd not far away. There, a group of people was approaching. Leading them was a tall figure with an incredibly powerful aura. Wherever she passed, even some Heavenly Sun experts changed their expressions and quickly stepped aside.

"Although I don't know the exact situation," Zhou Yuan murmured, "it's probably too late."