I'm in Yellow Maple Valley, and I have one equipment slot!

Chapter 320 Defeating Three Great Cultivators! Truly the Number One Person in Tiannan!

"Congratulations to Fellow Daoist Zhou on your advancement to the late Nascent Soul stage, achieving the status of a great cultivator! May your path to immortality be prosperous, and the Great Dao be within your grasp!"

As Zhou Yuan finished his simple opening remarks, everyone in the square, whether they were the three great cultivators or guests at the Nascent Soul and Core Formation stages, raised their glasses in unison, their voices resounding through the heavens.

We extend our most solemn and formal congratulations to this newly emerged top expert in Tiannan.

The aroma of the sacred wine, mingled with various words of congratulation, permeated the entire summit of Shengxian Peak, creating a warm and solemn atmosphere.

Zhou Yuan smiled gently and nodded to each person's congratulations.

He also raised his glass in return and said a few polite words such as, "I am fortunate to have made this breakthrough. I am grateful for the kindness of all my fellow Daoists. In the future, we will be together in Tiannan. I hope we can support each other."

He was humble and well-mannered, possessing both the dignity of a great monk and arrogance.

This made many guests who were initially skeptical or hesitant nod in approval and develop a favorable impression.

The banquet continued, with rare and exquisite fruits and delicacies being served one after another, accompanied by ethereal music.

The cultivators from various sects took this opportunity to reminisce with acquaintances, make new friends, or discuss the situation in Tiannan in hushed tones, enjoying themselves immensely.

As the host, Zhou Yuan naturally had to socialize with the representatives of various factions who came to offer toasts.

He spoke with composure and dignity, handling situations with ease, which earned him the secret admiration of many veteran Nascent Soul cultivators. This newly promoted Grand Master was by no means a reckless man who only knew how to cultivate diligently; his manners and interactions with others were also extraordinary.

As the banquet drew to a close, the guests were in high spirits and the atmosphere eased slightly.

Just then, Zhou Yuan, who was sitting in the main seat, moved his eyes slightly, as if he had inadvertently swept over the three seats closest to the main seat—Hehuan Old Demon), Zhiyang Shangren, and Wei Wuyai, whose aura was deep and solemn.

Almost simultaneously, a calm voice, audible only to the three of them, rang in their ears: "Fellow Daoist Hehuan, Fellow Daoist Zhiyang, Fellow Daoist Wei. There are many guests today, so it is not convenient to have a deep conversation. After the banquet, would you mind moving to the valley behind the mountain for a chat? I have some Daoist principles that I would like to verify with the three of you."

The message was brief, yet carried an undeniable air of authority.

The Old Demon of Hehuan and the Venerable Master Zhiyang raised their eyebrows almost imperceptibly. A hint of surprise flashed in Wei Wuyai's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure.

All three were ancient monsters who had cultivated for thousands of years. Their minds raced, and they instantly understood Zhou Yuan's intention.

The newly promoted Grand Master held a grand ceremony immediately upon emerging from seclusion, which was undoubtedly a way to announce his status to the world.

However, to truly gain the recognition and attention of fellow cultivators, and even to have sufficient say in certain matters, the title of "Great Cultivator" alone is not enough.

We also need to demonstrate strength that matches, or even surpasses, this title!

Especially in front of these three long-established and powerful cultivators from Tiannan, each of whom held sway over their own territory.

Private verification is undoubtedly the best way.

This way, one can assess each other's worth without having to prove who is better in front of everyone, thus avoiding damage to harmony and face.

It seems that this fellow Daoist Zhou is not just a person who is fond of grand achievements and empty fame; he is quite shrewd in his actions.

The three exchanged a knowing glance, and almost simultaneously, each conveyed an affirmative response to Zhou Yuan in their own way.

Master Zhiyang nodded slightly.

Wei Wuyai then raised his wine cup and gestured to Zhou Yuan from afar.

Having received a response, Zhou Yuan's smile remained unchanged as he continued to exchange a few pleasantries with a sect leader from a medium-sized sect who had come to offer a toast.

About fifteen minutes later, seeing that the banquet was drawing to a close, Zhou Yuan stood up and said loudly to all the guests, "Fellow Daoists, I have been very pleased with today's banquet. However, my sect is newly established and I am tied up with worldly affairs, so I cannot stay any longer. The elders of the sect will entertain you later with spiritual wine and delicacies, so please enjoy them. I will take my leave now, and I hope you will forgive any rudeness."

After saying this, he cupped his hands in greeting to the crowd, and whispered a few words to the three people standing beside him: Tianhen Old Monster, Nanlong Marquis, and Linghu Ancestor. Then, his figure flickered and transformed into a pale golden stream of light, drifting silently towards the back of Shengxian Peak, instantly disappearing from everyone's sight.

Immediately afterwards, the Old Demon of Hehuan also left, gently swaying as if merging into the wind, disappearing without a trace.

The figure of Master Zhiyang gradually became blurred, eventually turning into specks of golden light that scattered away.

Wei Wuyai, on the other hand, was enveloped in a swirling green mist, and then vanished from the spot.

Almost at the same time as Zhou Yuan left his seat, the three great cultivators also quietly left the noisy banquet square using their respective supernatural abilities.

Regarding Zhou Yuan's decision to leave all the guests at the banquet while he and three other great cultivators left first, the people in the square had their own guesses and some felt a little unhappy, but no one dared to show any dissatisfaction or reveal it.

How could they possibly interfere in the affairs of late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators?

Moreover, the host has made all the arrangements. The banquet is still the same, with the fine wine and delicacies as before, and several Nascent Soul stage elders from the Ascension Sect are also there to accompany us. They have already given us plenty of face.

Everyone assumed that the four top figures had important matters to discuss and continued to drink and chat. However, the topic of conversation inevitably turned to curiosity and speculation about the whereabouts of the four.

Behind Ascension Peak lies a secluded valley, perpetually shrouded by an array that ordinary disciples are forbidden from approaching.

This place is surrounded by mountains on three sides, and there is a clear pool in the valley. The water is emerald green and bottomless, and it exudes a faint chill.

The valley was open and flat, covering an area of ​​several hundred feet. The ground was made of hard obsidian, which had obviously been specially leveled by magic.

A faint spiritual light circulated around the valley, indicating that powerful soundproofing, divine sense detection barriers, and spatial stabilization measures had been set up to ensure that any activity inside would not reach the outside world.

At this moment, four figures appeared almost simultaneously in the center of the valley, by the clear pool.

Zhou Yuan was still wearing that simple black robe, standing with his hands behind his back, his expression calm.

Not far to his left was the Old Demon of Hehuan.

To the right front, Master Zhiyang, with an air of otherworldly wisdom, holds a whisk and has a serene expression.

On the other side, Wei Wuyai stood solidly, his face solemn, with a faint green mist swirling around him, a natural manifestation of the poison technique he had cultivated.

The moment the four appeared, the atmosphere in the valley instantly became heavy and subtle.

The air seemed to freeze, with only occasional ripples on the surface of the clear pool and the faint hum of the surrounding restrictions in operation.

"Fellow Daoist Zhou, you've specially invited us to this secluded place. May I ask what important matter you wish to discuss?"

The first to speak was the Old Demon of Hehuan.

His tone carried a subtle hint of scrutiny and impatience.

Clearly, he didn't want to be too polite.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yuan's gaze slowly swept over the three of them, a gentle yet sharp smile appearing on his face. He frankly said, "There's nothing of great importance. It's just that I've only recently reached this realm, and my control over my cultivation still needs refinement. I've long heard that you three fellow Daoists possess profound Daoist techniques and great supernatural powers, truly the pillars of our Tiannan cultivation world. Today, given this rare opportunity, I dare to humbly request to exchange and test my skills with you three. I hope you three fellow Daoists will not hesitate to offer your guidance."

He stated his intentions directly, frankly and directly.

Upon hearing this, the gray mist churned slightly. A glint flashed in the eyes of the Supreme Yang Master, and Wei Wuyai raised an eyebrow. However, the three of them did not show much surprise on their faces. Instead, they revealed a knowing smile that said, "Just as I thought."

When a new late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator is born, they need to prove their strength to their peers and to the entire cultivation world in some way, and establish their status. This has been an unspoken rule in the cultivation world since ancient times.

Private sparring, stopping short of a decisive exchange, allows for a thorough assessment of each other's strengths and weaknesses, establishing a new balance of power, while avoiding the numerous troubles that open conflict might bring.

Zhou Yuan's decision to challenge the three of them privately after the celebration was a mature and reasonable move.

"If Fellow Daoist Zhou has such an elegant interest, this old man will gladly accompany him."

The elusive voice of the Old Demon of Hehuan rang out again, "Then I shall first experience Fellow Daoist Zhou's superior skills!"

He thought Zhou Yuan wanted to spar with the three of them individually to assess their respective strengths.

After all, the idea of ​​one against three was too horrifying, and he didn't even consider it.

However, Zhou Yuan gently shook his head, his smile unchanged. He looked at the Old Demon Hehuan with clear light, then glanced at the Venerable Zhiyang and Wei Wuyai, and calmly corrected them, "Fellow Daoist Hehuan, you misunderstand. What I mean is—I would like to have a friendly exchange and verification with the three of you."

"What?!"

This time, even with Master Zhiyang's cultivation of inner strength, he couldn't help but show a clear look of astonishment on his face.

Wei Wuyai's pupils shrank drastically, almost thinking he had misheard!

Want to spar together? Or one against three?

Zhou Yuan actually wanted to challenge three Nascent Soul stage cultivators who had been famous for hundreds of years and each possessed astonishing supernatural abilities all by himself?!

This is no longer a simple "sparring match," it is blatant contempt and provocation! It is a huge questioning of their strength and status!

It should be noted that any one of the three of them is a powerful figure who commands respect and is revered by countless sects.

With the three of them working together, even if they were to face a legendary Nascent Soul cultivator, they might not be able to defeat him, but they would definitely have a fighting chance and could even cause him considerable trouble!

Even if Zhou Yuan is a newly promoted late-stage cultivator with exceptional talent and formidable combat power, how could he dare to be so arrogant?

"You, surnamed Zhou! Aren't you being a bit too arrogant?!"

The Old Demon of Hehuan had the most violent and capricious temper, and he couldn't hold back any longer, shouting sternly.

A chilling, violent, and terrifying pressure, carrying both endless allure and destructive aura, suddenly erupted and pressed down on Zhou Yuan!

"You think you're invincible in the South just because you've advanced to the late stage? How dare you look down on us like that!"

Faced with the angry rebuke and oppressive aura of the Old Demon of the Joyful Union, Zhou Yuan's expression remained unchanged, and he didn't even flinch at the hem of his clothes.

He merely glanced indifferently at the swirling gray mist and calmly said, "Fellow Daoist Hehuan, whether you are arrogant or have a condescending attitude, words are useless. Your abilities will naturally be revealed during our sparring later. There is no point in engaging in verbal sparring now."

His tone remained calm, yet carried an undeniable certainty and confidence, as if he were stating a very simple fact.

"Good! Good! Good!"

Enraged, the Old Demon of Hehuan laughed, his gray mist churning even more violently. "Since Fellow Daoist Zhou has such an interest," he said, "then I'll see just what abilities you possess to dare utter such arrogant words!"

"Wei had no objection."

Wei Wuyai gave Zhou Yuan a deep look, his anger gradually fading, replaced by a solemn and inquisitive expression.

Although he felt that Zhou Yuan's words were too presumptuous, how could someone who had cultivated to the late stage of the Nascent Soul realm be easily impulsive?

Zhou Yuan must have something to rely on to say such a thing.

He wanted to see where this new comrade's confidence came from.

Master Zhiyang had regained his composure. Holding his whisk, he bowed to Zhou Yuan and said slowly, "Since Fellow Daoist Zhou insists, to avoid damaging our harmony, we will follow your advice and jointly verify it. However, Fellow Daoist should know that swords have no eyes, and magic is merciless; please stop when you've struck."

"That's exactly right." Zhou Yuan nodded, a genuine smile of fighting spirit finally appearing on his face. "Fellow Daoists, please!"

The moment he finished speaking, Zhou Yuan's eyes shone brightly, and his entire aura changed drastically!

The previous gentle and peaceful demeanor vanished instantly, replaced by a powerful and overwhelming fighting spirit and pressure, as sharp and unparalleled as a divine sword drawn from its sheath, that erupted from his body!

The pressure was so strong that it subtly pushed back the pressure previously released by the Old Demon of Joyful Union, and even caused the air in the entire valley to hum under the strain!

Sensing the completely different and oppressive fighting spirit emanating from Zhou Yuan, the three old demons of the Hehuan Sect were all taken aback and no longer underestimated him! This boy was definitely not bluffing!

"war!"

Almost simultaneously, the three of them held nothing back and raised their auras to the limit!

The gray mist around the Old Demon of the Joyful Union churned and contracted violently, eventually transforming into a huge demonic shadow about three zhang tall, with a blurred face that seemed to be composed of countless wailing faces of resentful souls!

The demonic figure was surrounded by billowing black energy and howling winds, exuding a nauseating stench and a bewitching, eerie magic power—its signature demonic technique, "Heavenly Magic Appearance"!

As soon as this demonic form appeared, the temperature in the valley plummeted, as if it had instantly transformed into the Netherworld Demon Realm.

Master Zhiyang radiated a dazzling crimson light, as if a small sun was rising behind him!

Within the light, the phantom images of dragons and phoenixes swirled and chanted, and righteous energy filled the heavens and earth, dispelling most of the sinister demonic energy brought by the Old Demon of Joyful Union.

The whisk in his hand moved automatically without wind, each strand of dust glowing with crimson-gold runes, radiating a scorching and sacred aura.

This is the ultimate manifestation of the "Great Sun Pure Yang Technique," the top-tier orthodox cultivation method he practiced.

Wei Wuyai did not move, but the faint green mist surrounding him suddenly became thick and viscous, and its color turned into a deep, unsettling turquoise!

As the mist churned, it seemed as if countless tiny, venomous insects and snakes were materializing and hissing. The air emitted a sizzling, corrosive sound, and even the hard obsidian ground showed faint signs of erosion.

His mastery of poison techniques was unparalleled in the southern region; ordinary cultivators would die upon contact with it.

The magic treasure becomes tainted upon contact.

The three cultivators unleashed their full power: demonic energy, pure yang energy, and potent poison. These three distinct yet equally formidable forces stood in stark contrast within the valley, subtly uniting to counter Zhou Yuan's overwhelming battle intent and oppressive aura at the center, which was like a pillar stabilizing the sea.

The collision of the four forces caused the protective light barrier surrounding the valley to ripple violently, emitting a creaking sound as it struggled to bear the weight.

"Very good—that's more like it."

Faced with the full force of three opponents of the same level, Zhou Yuan's fighting spirit intensified. Instead of fear, he felt an excitement of meeting his match.

This was the strongest battle he had faced since reaching the late stage of the Nascent Soul realm, and indeed, the strongest battle of his life so far! However, he felt no pressure; instead, he was filled with an eager impulse to test his current strength.

The next moment, he didn't wait any longer and made the first move!

"Great Geng Sword Formation, activate!"

"Clang clang clang clang—!!!"

The sword's cry, sharp and clear, seemingly capable of tearing the heavens and earth apart, resounded throughout the valley!

Seventy-two gleaming golden swords, crackling with lightning, emerged from Zhou Yuan's body, instantly forming a three-dimensional sword formation covering a radius of a hundred feet, dazzling with golden light and crisscrossing with sword energy!

Within the sword formation, countless condensed golden sword lights separated out, intertwined with each other, and faintly formed a sword domain filled with killing intent!

Compared to when he was in the mid-Nascent Soul stage, the sword formation now covers a larger area, the sword light is more solid, and the pressure is several times stronger!

Furthermore, wisps of pale golden divine lightning, like tiny electric snakes, leaped and flowed between the sword lights, emanating a holy and evil-repelling power that instinctively disgusted and terrified those with demonic auras.

"Well done!"

The enormous demonic shadow that the Old Demon of Joyful Union had transformed into let out a sharp shriek. With a swift movement of its demonic claws, a massive demonic sword, entirely black, with a grotesque shape and shrouded in dense, impenetrable black aura of vengeful spirits, materialized from its palm and unleashed a powerful, mountain-splitting slash at the sword formation! Even before the sword arrived, the terrifying demonic energy and the wailing of vengeful spirits surged like a tidal wave against the light barrier of the sword formation.

With a flick of his whisk, Master Zhiyang unleashed ten thousand strands of crimson-gold dust, which suddenly grew into a cloud of fire burning with pure Yang true fire. It swept towards the sword formation from the side, distorting the air wherever it passed.

At the same time, he opened his mouth and spat out an ancient longsword, its body entirely crimson and its blade engraved with patterns of blazing suns, which transformed into a stunning rainbow, carrying a scorching sword intent that could burn everything, and pierced straight into the core of the sword formation!

Wei Wuyai formed hand seals and pushed forward. The thick, dark green poisonous mist instantly condensed into a gigantic poisonous handprint, tens of feet in diameter, with five clearly defined fingers, sharp nails, and a strange green liquid flowing throughout. It carried a terrifying aura that corroded everything and slammed down on the sword formation from another direction!

Wherever the palm strike passed, even the space itself seemed to ripple with the effects of the toxins.

The three cultivators unleashed their most powerful and secret techniques and magical treasures, working in perfect harmony to seal off all escape routes in the sword formation, aiming to shatter Zhou Yuan's seemingly arrogant sword formation in one fell swoop!

However, Zhou Yuan remained calm in the face of this combined attack, his eyes revealing only a cool calculation and control.

With a slight thought, the pale golden exorcising divine lightning that had been leaping and flowing within the sword formation suddenly shone brightly!

Divine thunder to ward off evil, and to dispel the net!

"Sizzle sizzle—!"

Countless fine golden lightning bolts shot out from the tips of the seven thousand two flying swords, not to attack, but to instantly weave together into a giant lightning network covering the entire surface of the sword formation, with dazzling golden light and leaping lightning!

Above the power grid, a terrifying aura of extreme yang and strength, capable of repelling all evil, emanates, making it the natural nemesis of all yin and evil demonic arts.

Evil-repelling divine thunder!

The old demon of the Joyful Union's incredibly powerful vengeful spirit sword struck the golden lightning net first!

"laugh--!!!"

It was as if a red-hot iron had been plunged into the snow, or as if the sun had shone on the thick fog!

The demonic sword, imbued with countless vengeful spirits and malevolent energy, instantly dissipated and vanished upon contact with the electric net formed by the exorcising divine lightning. The dense demonic energy and phantoms of vengeful spirits on it seemed to have encountered their natural enemy, emitting a piercing scream as they rapidly dissolved and annihilated at a visible speed! The sword's own radiance also dimmed drastically, as if its spiritual essence had been severely damaged!

"Damn it! Evil-repelling divine thunder?!?!"

The old demon of the Hehuan Sect's voice was filled with panic!

He naturally recognized this legendary divine object, the nightmare of all demonic cultivators!

Faced with this exorcising divine thunder, the power of his "Myriad Souls Heavenly Magic Form" and Demon Sword Divine Ability was directly reduced by more than 70%.

How can we fight like this?

In just this one exchange, the Old Demon of Hehuan knew that he was no match for Zhou Yuan. If he continued to fight, he would not only suffer a crushing defeat, but he might even have his demonic arts fundamentally damaged by the Evil-Repelling Divine Lightning!

He acted decisively, the enormous demonic shadow retreating rapidly, while the gray mist contracted violently, reforming into its elusive form. Still shaken, it shrieked, "Fellow Daoist Zhou, your abilities are vast! I—I surrender! I'm done fighting!"

He actually admitted defeat and withdrew from the battle!

Clean and efficient, without any unnecessary delays.

Face is important, but what does it matter compared to damage to one's demonic powers?

He knew all too well how terrifyingly powerful the Evil-Repelling Divine Thunder was in suppressing demonic arts.

The sudden surrender and withdrawal of the Old Demon of Hehuan caused both Master Zhiyang and Wei Wuyai to feel a sinking feeling in their hearts.

Although they were shocked that Zhou Yuan had mastered the Evil-Repelling Divine Thunder, they did not expect it to be so effective in restraining the Old Demon of the Joyful Union, forcing him to admit defeat.

At this moment, the Great Sun Blazing Sun Sword and the Dust-Sweeping Fiery Cloud of Master Zhiyang, and Wei Wuyai's Ten Thousand Poisons Jade Spirit Palm, also attacked simultaneously!

With another thought, Zhou Yuan's sword formation instantly split and combined countless golden sword lights that had been condensed to the extreme, transforming into countless golden sword threads that were as thin as hair, yet incomparably sharp and contained pure Gengjin sword energy!

These sword threads did not pierce randomly, but rather, as if they had a life of their own, they intertwined in the air to form two golden sword nets with varying density and full of profound sword principles, respectively meeting the crimson sword rainbow and the emerald green poisonous palm!

"Ten thousand swords transform into threads, a net of swords stretching to the heavens!"

"Hiss hiss hiss hiss—!"

The crimson Great Sun Blazing Sword struck the golden sword net, unleashing blinding sparks and violent fluctuations of spiritual energy.

The sword net appeared slender, yet it was incredibly tough, containing the invincible sharpness of Geng metal and the evil-repelling power of the divine thunder.

Although the Pure Yang True Fire was not afraid of the Evil-Repelling Divine Thunder, the sharpness of the Gengjin Sword Silk and the immense power of the sword formation made it difficult for the Great Sun Blazing Yang Sword to advance. Instead, it was entangled and cut by countless sword silk, and the spiritual light on the sword body dimmed at a visible speed!

The Supreme Yang Master's mind was connected to the magical treasure. He felt waves of extremely sharp sword energy backlashing from the connection, causing his blood and qi to surge. He was even more distressed to discover that the spirituality of his natal treasure, which he had nurtured for over a thousand years, was being rapidly damaged! If he continued to fight like this, he might really be destroyed here!

"not good!"

Master Zhiyang's expression changed, and he quickly formed a hand seal, trying to recall the Great Sun Blazing Sun Sword.

On the other side, Wei Wuyai's Ten Thousand Poisons Jade Spirit Palm struck another sword net.

The highly poisonous emerald mist, capable of corroding magical artifacts and killing nascent souls, actually emitted a "sizzling" sound when it came into contact with the golden sword threads containing the power of exorcising divine thunder, and was continuously purified and dispelled!

Although the Evil-Repelling Divine Thunder is not as effective against poison as it is against demonic arts, it still greatly weakens its power.

Even more terrifying was that those golden sword threads were so penetrating that they actually cut and pierced the huge poisonous handprint through the gaps in the poisonous mist!

Each sword thread that sliced ​​through the air caused a cloud of emerald green poisonous mist to dissipate. Like a skilled butcher dissecting an ox, within a few breaths, the formidable Ten Thousand Poisons Emerald Spirit Palm was riddled with holes and showed signs of disintegration!

Wei Wuyai was horrified. His poisonous palm was not only powerful, but also had the miraculous effect of defiled magic treasures and corroded magic power. Ordinary cultivators would avoid it like the plague. He never expected that it would be so vulnerable under Zhou Yuan's sword formation!

The sharpness of the opponent's sword threads and the exquisite control they displayed were simply unbelievable!

"Now!"

Just as Master Zhiyang was busy retrieving his magic weapon, and Wei Wuyai was shocked that his poison palm had been broken, and his mind relaxed slightly, a cold light flashed in Zhou Yuan's eyes, and in his sea of ​​consciousness, the vast and condensed divine power instantly became highly concentrated!

"The Twelve Stabs of the Divine Court!"

Twelve invisible and intangible, yet extremely sharp and refined, pale golden divine consciousness spikes aimed directly at the origin of the soul, instantly traversed spatial distances, ignoring the pure yang protective aura surrounding Supreme Yang and Wei Wuyai's poisonous mist barrier, and fiercely pierced into the depths of the two men's sea of ​​consciousness between their brows!

This time, Zhou Yuan restrained himself, using only about 50% of his divine sense power, aiming to subdue the enemy rather than kill him.

"Ugh—!"

"6

"puff!"

At the same time, Master Zhiyang and Wei Wuyai's bodies trembled violently, and they let out a muffled groan!

Master Zhiyang's face turned deathly pale instantly, and blood trickled from his seven orifices. His action of recalling the Great Sun Blazing Sun Sword came to an abrupt halt. He staggered backward, his eyes filled with horror and pain, as if his head had been hit hard by a heavy hammer. His sea of ​​consciousness churned, and he was in excruciating pain. For a moment, he lost precise control over his own magic power and magic weapon!

Wei Wuyai was even more miserable. He mainly cultivated poison skills, so his protection of his soul was slightly weaker than that of others of the same level.

Even at 50% power, the "Twelve Divine Thrusters" were already an unbearable burden for him!

He felt a sudden darkness before his eyes, as if his soul was being pierced by countless steel needles at the same time. The tearing pain caused his consciousness to go blank for a moment, his body stiffened on the spot, and the poisonous mist around him churned and dissipated violently due to loss of control.

"Strike while the iron is hot!" How could Zhou Yuan let such a golden opportunity slip by?

He raised his right hand and struck out with a palm from afar at Wei Wuyai, whose body was stiff and whose soul was injured.

A massive, house-sized, clearly patterned cyan hand, formed entirely from pure magical power, appeared out of thin air. It possessed immense, overwhelming force, yet skillfully avoided Wei Wuyai's vital points, and gently pressed down on his chest.

"Bang!"

""

A muffled thud.

Wei Wuyai was struck as if by a heavy blow. He flew backward like a kite with a broken string, crashing hard into the barrier light screen at the edge of the valley. He bounced back and landed with his face as pale as paper, his breath weak, and blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

This was Zhou Yuan deliberately holding back.

If Zhou Yuan truly intended to kill, and had unleashed his full power in that spiritual attack, combined with the cyan hand, Wei Wuyai would likely have been annihilated, his soul and body destroyed!

"Fellow Daoist Wei, you flatter me." Zhou Yuan dispersed his cyan hand and said calmly to Wei Wuyai, who was struggling to get up.

Wei Wuyai stood up with difficulty, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and looked at Zhou Yuan with no trace of resentment or anger, only deep fear, shock and a trace of gratitude.

He knew that if Zhou Yuan had wanted to kill him, he would be dead by now.

"Thank you for showing mercy, Fellow Daoist Zhou." Wei Wuyai took a deep breath, suppressing the churning blood and the excruciating pain in his soul, cupped his hands and smiled bitterly, admitting defeat directly.

On the other side, Master Zhiyang finally managed to suppress the excruciating pain in his sea of ​​consciousness and stabilize his body and the Great Sun Blazing Sword.

He looked at his natal ancient treasure, whose spiritual light had dimmed and whose blade even had a few fine cracks, and his facial muscles twitched, his heart aching beyond measure.

Seeing Wei Wuyai's miserable state and feeling his own still aching sea of ​​consciousness, he knew that if the fight continued, his precious ancient treasure, which he regarded as his life, would probably be completely destroyed, and he would have no chance of winning.

"Fellow Daoist Zhou's supernatural powers are unparalleled; this old man—willingly admits defeat."

Master Zhiyang sighed and readily admitted defeat, sheathing his Great Sun Blazing Sun Sword and whisk. The look in his eyes as he gazed at Zhou Yuan was now completely different.

The battle, from beginning to end, lasted only a dozen or so breaths.

The Old Demon of Hehuan, intimidated by the Evil-Repelling Divine Thunder, surrendered without a fight. Wei Wuyai was severely injured by a divine sense technique and was sent flying with a single palm strike. The Supreme Yang Master's natal magic weapon was damaged, and he knew he was no match for the opponent.

Zhou Yuan defeated three opponents single-handedly and easily, with an almost overwhelming advantage! Moreover, he clearly did not use his full strength and held back at every turn!

At this moment, the valley was completely silent. Only the clear pool water rippled gently, and the humming of the surrounding protective light barrier, which had been emanating from the intense battle just now, gradually subsided.

The gray mist that the Old Demon of Hehuan had transformed into floated silently, its previous arrogance gone, replaced by a sense of tranquility. The gazes of Venerable Zhiyang and Wei Wuyai, standing not far away, towards Zhou Yuan had completely changed.

That was no longer the gaze one would give to a "newly promoted peer," nor was it a look of scrutiny, competition, or even a hint of disdain. Instead, it had transformed into the gaze one would give to a "senior master" whose strength far surpassed their own, someone they looked up to with awe and even reverence!

The strength Zhou Yuan displayed has completely exceeded their understanding of the "late stage of Nascent Soul" realm!

That incredibly sharp and ever-changing sword formation containing divine thunder to ward off evil, that unpredictable and terrifyingly powerful divine sense attack technique, and that unfathomable magical power and exquisite control—each of these was enough to make them feel troubled when facing it alone.

When these advantages are combined in one person, the result is absolute dominance!

After a long silence, the ethereal voice of the Old Demon of Hehuan finally broke the stillness, his tone complex yet carrying an unprecedented solemnity: "Fellow Daoist Zhou—I—am completely convinced. With your abilities, you should be the number one person in Tiannan!"

He stated that Zhou Yuan was "the number one person in Tiannan"!

This was unprecedented for the arrogant, eccentric, and domineering Old Demon Hehuan.

Upon hearing this, Venerable Zhiyang and Wei Wuyai exchanged a glance and slowly nodded.

Master Zhiyang stroked his beard and sighed, "Fellow Daoist Hehuan is quite right. Fellow Daoist Zhou, at such a young age, possesses such cultivation and supernatural abilities; you are truly a prodigy unprecedented in the history of the cultivation world of Tiannan. Your strength far surpasses ours; the title of 'Number One in Tiannan' is well-deserved. Given time, with your talent, you will surely have a great chance of reaching the legendary Nascent Soul realm!"

Wei Wuyai also said, "Only today do I understand what a true late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator is. Fellow Daoist Zhou, I admire you. With you here, the prestige of our Tiannan cultivation world will surely rise to even greater heights."

The three people's words had already elevated Zhou Yuan to an unprecedented level.

The number one person in Tiannan!

This is an assessment that all three of them agree on!

Although this sparring session took place in this secluded valley, unknown to outsiders, this understanding was already deeply ingrained in the three of them.

From now on, when facing Zhou Yuan, they will have to adjust their mindset and treat him as a "senior" or "leader" whose strength far surpasses their own.

"You flatter me, fellow Daoists."

Zhou Yuan remained calm, showing no arrogance whatsoever. Instead, he humbly shook his head, "I am unworthy of the title of the number one person in Tiannan. The path of cultivation is endless. I have merely taken a step ahead and gained some insights. I invited the three of you here today not to compete for that empty title, but because I am itching to test my knowledge with fellow Daoists of the same level, so that we can progress together. I hope the three of you will not take offense."

"Fellow Daoist Zhou is too modest," said Venerable Zhiyang with a smile. "Fellow Daoist has such strength, yet he remains humble and open-minded. He is truly a role model for us all."

Zhou Yuan has achieved his goal in today's battle.

He wasn't trying to make a name for himself, but rather to let these three actual controllers and top experts of Tiannan personally experience his strength, so that they would feel fear and even awe.

Only in this way can the position of the Ascension Sect in Tiannan be guaranteed to be as stable as Mount Tai, and no one will dare to provoke it easily.

This also lays a solid foundation for potential future endeavors. Judging from the three individuals' current attitude, the results have far exceeded expectations.

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