Contention

In mid-air.

Golden sword energy churned with wind and thunder.

Zhou Yuan's black hair flew wildly, his ancient green robe rustling in the wind.

"I never thought I'd meet an opponent like you today."

"What a sword!"

"What a sword!"

Zhou Yuan sighed in admiration.

Although this old man with golden eyes cultivated the Geng Metal Great Dao, his mastery of the sword path was clearly superior.

With this sword's appearance, all techniques submitted.

Even Zhou Yuan couldn't help but feel a prickling sensation on his back, his Primordial Spirit stinging.

"There are so many heroes in this world."

The greatest respect for a hero was to send him on his way.

Zhou Yuan moved slightly, and the entire void seemed to tremble.

"Summon wind and rain, command thunder and lightning!"

"Thunder, come!"

Wind rose, rain fell, thunder rumbled, lightning flashed.

Zhou Yuan bathed in the myriad rays of lightning, like a monarch of thunder.

Rumble!

The Black Water Divine Thunder tore through the void, striking the sword light.

A white light flashed across the great thousand universes.

The extreme collision shook the earth's veins and split the void.

The surging aftershocks pulverized countless clouds and mist.

The water mist gathered more and more, and in the blink of an eye, Zhou Yuan and Old Man Heavenly Sword were no longer visible in the high heavens.

Only the aftershocks of colliding Laws reverberated, captured by the assembled cultivators.

Sword light flickered, thunder light illuminated, and Yin and Yang mystic lights displayed various wondrous techniques.

After an unknown amount of time.

The rain in the void turned into blood rain.

The sky was filled with a murderous aura, Laws vibrated, and a cold wind howled.

Amidst the blood rain, a Daoist with a green robe and wide sleeves stood tall.

He looked back at the several Grand Unity Great Sages flying towards this place from the horizon and smiled gently:

"Fellow Daoists, why are you so late?"

He picked up the head still dripping with golden divine blood and waved it slightly.

"This scoundrel has already been beheaded!"

The escaping lights halted.

At this moment, countless living beings in the Myriad Spirit Mountain region turned their gazes to the green-robed figure in the void.

A true man.

Should be like this!

"Did you hear?"

"The Mountain Lord of Chessboard Mountain, Grand Sage Taiyuan, beheaded the elder of the Golden Brilliance Imperial Dynasty, Old Man Heavenly Sword."

"Magnificent! It greatly boosts the prestige of our Phoenix Perch Mountain lineage!"

The entire Myriad Spirit Mountain Range was abuzz because of one person.

Countless living beings looked towards Chessboard Mountain, their eyes filled with excitement.

The Phoenix Perch Mountain lineage had been leading the Demon Clan in battle against the Five Divine Dynasties for who knows how many years.

This great victory had truly boosted the morale of the many races in the Myriad Spirit Mountain Range.

"Brother Taiyuan, your skills are remarkable."

On Chessboard Mountain, in a grotto-heaven, several Grand Unity Great Sages sat discussing the Dao.

One Great Sage clapped his hands in admiration:

"To have slain Old Man Heavenly Sword in an instant, your fame will likely spread across millions of miles."

That Old Man Heavenly Sword attained his Dao during the Human Emperor's era.

He had fought several battles during the Dragon-Han Crimson Bright Tribulation.

His combat skills were far beyond those of ordinary cultivators, yet he had fallen at the hands of Zhou Yuan, who had just attained the Grand Unity realm. How could this not be shocking?

These few Grand Unity Great Sages looked at Zhou Yuan, who was smiling and chatting at the head seat, with complex expressions.

One must remember that just one Primordial Epoch ago, he was merely a cultivator in the True One Realm.

"To possess such power immediately after achieving Grand Unity is truly terrifying."

As they thought this, certain thoughts in their hearts could no longer be suppressed.

A deity exuding a profound aura, playing with a bead of Netherworld Heavy Water in his hand, laughed heartily.

"Daoist Taiyuan, do you have a Dao Lineage inheritance?"

Zhou Yuan's gaze shifted. The person asking the question was named Chong Ming. He hailed from the North Sea and was a great whale who had attained the Dao.

The North Sea.

He should be a Grand Unity from Kunpeng's lineage.

But what did he mean by asking that?

Several thoughts flashed through his mind, but Zhou Yuan's expression remained unchanged. He calmly replied, "This humble Daoist was fortunate enough to enter an ancient grotto-heaven relic and obtained Creation from it, which allowed me to luckily advance to Grand Unity."

"However, I have no Dao Lineage inheritance to rely on."

Upon hearing this, Grand Sage Chong Ming's eyes lit up. He steadied his mind and slowly spoke, "Daoist, you have now attained the Grand Unity Great Sage realm."

"You must know that the Great Dao is arduous, and the further one ascends, the more difficult cultivation becomes, like climbing to heaven."

Zhou Yuan nodded.

"The Grand Unity realm comprehends the profundity of Laws."

"The Innate Dao Lord realm understands the true meaning of the Great Dao."

Grand Sage Chong Ming continued, "Laws are difficult to comprehend, and the Great Dao is even harder to find."

"Exploring it on your own is even more difficult."

"Have you not heard that a true transmission is worth more than ten thousand volumes of false teachings?"

"If Daoist wishes to take another step forward on the path of Dao, you will undoubtedly need to join a Dao Lineage and obtain a Dao Lineage inheritance."

The ruse was revealed.

"This humble Daoist comes from the North溟 Palace in the North Sea."

"The North溟 Palace is a Dao Lord's Dao Lineage."

"Ancestor Kunpeng is a renowned Great Divine Ability User throughout the myriad heavens."

"If Daoist is interested, this humble Daoist is willing to act as your guide to lead you into the North溟."

As soon as Grand Sage Chong Ming finished speaking.

A burly figure laughed heartily. His hair was like fire, and his face was crimson. It was the Fire God, Grand Sage Chi Zhou, from the Sun Palace lineage.

"Daoist Chong Ming, you are being unfair."

"How can you try to lure Daoist Taiyuan to the North Sea with just empty words?"

"Ancestor Kunpeng's divine abilities are indeed vast, but our Sun Palace also has Great Divine Ability Users presiding over it."

Although Grand Sage Chi Zhou did not explicitly state it.

Everyone present knew that the Great Divine Ability Users he was referring to were Dao Lord Di Jun, who was about to ascend to the position of Heavenly Emperor, and Dao Lord Tai Yi, who was born holding the Chaos Bell.

Grand Sage Chi Zhou smiled brilliantly at Zhou Yuan.

"With your talent, Daoist, you will surely be greatly utilized after joining the Sun Palace."

"Their Majesties are currently busy with their great undertaking. If their undertaking is successful, the vast Primordial Era can be theirs."

"Although I am only a Grand Unity, I still have some standing in the Sun Palace."

"The Sun Palace is willing to offer ten grotto-heavens, ten thousand catties of Sun Gold Essence, a thousand volumes of Daoist scriptures, and a wisp of True Sun Fire... and the position of an Innate Star God, to invite Daoist to join the Sun Palace."

Grand Sage Chi Zhou looked at Zhou Yuan with burning eyes.

The Demon Court had just been established, and their Majesties were eager to recruit talent.

This Taiyuanzi, having just broken through to become a Grand Unity Great Sage, possessed combat power comparable to that of veteran Grand Unity Great Sages. This showed that his talent and foundation were of the highest caliber. With the help of the Sun Palace, he might have a chance to break through to the Innate Dao Lord realm in the future.

Moreover, Taiyuanzi was exceptional in both alchemy and artifact forging, making him a rare talent. Inviting him to join the Heavenly Court would greatly benefit the strengthening of the Demon Clan's power.

With this merit, he might be able to advance further.

Upon hearing Grand Sage Chi Zhou's words, Grand Sage Chong Ming was taken aback, then smiled bitterly and shook his head.

He held no grudges in his heart.

He couldn't help but sigh inwardly:

"After all, the Sun Palace has a vast empire."

"But it's also because this Taiyuanzi has outstanding talent, like a cone standing in a bag, that it has attracted the contention of the Sun Palace lineage."

The Innate Great Sages present had mixed expressions.

The Sun Palace was willing to part with an Innate Star God position.

Innate Star God positions varied in rank. High-ranking ones like Zi Wei and Gou Chen were all Innate Dao Lord positions.

Lower-ranking ones, like those of some minor stars, were barely at the Grotto-heaven Realm.

But the Daoist Taiyuan present had already attained the Innate Great Sage status.

Therefore, the Sun Palace must be willing to sacrifice a Grand Unity position this time.

Otherwise, it wouldn't be an invitation to Taiyuanzi, but an insult to him.

An Innate Great Sage position, while it couldn't bring about a qualitative change for existences like them, could still offer insights and greatly assist in comprehending the Great Dao sooner.

Even they felt a stir of desire at this moment.